A listener writes “Wes, last March, my son and I were staying near Franklin, NC when we heard what one of your callers called a 500lb owl. I have great horned owls next to my home.
I grew up around them and do recognize their calls. This was slightly off and very loud. It starred out like a 500lb owl and then turned into what sounded like 2 Chimps chatting back and forth. My 23 yr old son was with me, and it freaked him out. He was in the hot tub on the cliff side, and I was in the kitchen next to the deck w hot tub. He ran inside and locked all the doors. I ran outside cause I’ve heard the Ohio howl 2x and wanted to see a Bigfoot.
He got upset cause I went outside to “call it.” He does not talk about it. He looked it up and decided it was a barred owl cause supposedly they sound like monkeys. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it. I’ve listened to numerous barred owl audios and that is not what we heard. It was sounded like 2 chimps chattering back and forth. My son does admit it sounded like 2 chimps chatting. Have you heard of this? Do you have an audio of this? Cause I’ve been looking and can’t find an audio like we heard.”
Brian L
Way to keep the blog interesting…..
Still waiting for the humble 1000th….
Sheila L
Brian, 1000 already happened. Wes conveniently numbered it 1001. 😂
Kevin L
Sharon H
Maybe listen to the Sierra Sounds?
Charles R
Franklin, NC. Smack dab in the Nantahala National Forest. Slightly off and very loud is an accurate description of their owl calls, of which I have heard, and when it was followed up by the Ohio Howl, for me this was a good indicator of what was going on. Mine was the Huron National Forest.
Robert P
I’m currently involved in an investigation in South Eastern Missouri, where we have encountered the same thing, as far as the 500lb Owl. If you hear it, and you know what Great Horned Owls actually sound like, it’s very clear that this sound is not coming from an owl.