Red foxes have over 28 distinct vocalizations. These include sharp barks and eerie, high-pitched screams and howls. Each sound serves a specific purpose—ranging from greetings and excitement to threats, defensive warnings, and submissive signals.
These vocalizations are much higher in pitch than those of dogs, which is due to the fox’s smaller body size. The red fox's barks can sound like a rapid, yipping "ow-wow-wow-wow," and are sometimes mistaken for an owl’s hoot due to the unusual tone and rhythm.