A family in a Texas suburb was recently awakened in the middle of the night by a series of chilling screams that lasted for hours over several days. The eerie sounds, likened to human cries, left the family on edge, unable to sleep. The source of the noise was eventually discovered to be a small, unassuming creature resembling a clump of dirt—a Fowler's toad.
The family, led by Jaclyn Shaw Byrom, recorded the haunting calls and shared them on Facebook, sparking widespread discussion. Many listeners described the sounds as reminiscent of a horror movie, with some even believing it to be a person in distress. The family endured sleepless nights until they finally identified the culprit.
According to Lang Elliott, author of a guide to North American frogs and toads, the call of the Fowler's toad is a nasal, buzzy trill that can last from one to five seconds, often compared to the cry of a baby or a wailing scream. Fortunately, the toad eventually moved on, allowing the family to rest again. However, it returned weeks later for an encore performance, leaving the family with a memorable, albeit unsettling, experience.
