Nature guide · Green Ridge State Forest, Maryland

What you hear at night at Green Ridge

67 entries from the forest's field guide.

A primitive site at Green Ridge is dark and it is not quiet. Almost all of this is small and none of it is coming for you, and knowing which is which is the difference between a bad night and a good one. One page rather than four: split by animal the human-made sounds are three entries, which is a stub.

Booking
None. Sites are first come, first served.
Fee
$10 a night for a standard site, $20 for a group site, paid at headquarters. Maryland DNR.
Check in
Sign the sheet at headquarters when you arrive, then go to the site.
Is it free tonight?
This page cannot know. The app shows what the sign-up sheet last showed, with the photo's age.

Every photograph here is openly licensed and credited to the person who took it. The recordings are in the app — open the nature guide to hear them.

American toad, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
cc0

American toad Anaxyrus americanus

Often seen · after dark

A long, high, musical trill held for up to 30 seconds. Overlapping toads make a shimmering drone.

Season
Apr–May
Months
April to June
Time of night
dark

Hear the american toad in the app

Barred owl, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Matt Felperin · cc-by

Barred owl Strix varia

Often seen · after dark

Emphatic “who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all”; pairs duet at dusk and dawn, sometimes a raucous caterwaul.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark, dawn

Hear the barred owl in the app

Carolina wren, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Helen J · cc-by

Carolina wren Thryothorus ludovicianus

Often seen

A ringing “teakettle-teakettle-teakettle,” far louder than the tiny bird. It leads the dawn chorus year-round.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dawn

Hear the carolina wren in the app

Common true katydid, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Mark Eanes · cc-by

Common true katydid Pterophylla camellifolia

Often seen · after dark

The classic canopy call: a raspy, argumentative “Katy-DID, Katy-DIDN'T” from every treetop after dark.

Season
Jul–Oct
Months
July to October
Time of night
dark

Hear the common true katydid in the app

Dog-day (annual) cicada Neotibicen spp.

Often seen

A loud, whining, buzz-saw drone that swells and fades. It's the sound of a hot afternoon, trailing into dusk. (Daytime, but included as the day→night handoff.)

Season
Jul–Sep
Months
July to September
Time of night
day, dawn

Hear the dog-day (annual) cicada in the app

Eastern screech-owl, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Eastern screech-owl Megascops asio

Often seen · after dark

A descending horse-like whinny and a soft, even trill. Never an actual screech.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark

Hear the eastern screech-owl in the app

Eastern whip-poor-will, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Tom Field · cc-by

Eastern whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus

Often seen · after dark

Chants its own name, “WHIP-poor-WILL,” for minutes on end from the dry oak ridges. Green Ridge is prime habitat.

Season
May–Jul
Months
May to August
Time of night
dark, dawn
If it startles you
Charming for ten minutes, then relentless until well past midnight. Bring earplugs if your site is near a ridge edge.

Hear the eastern whip-poor-will in the app

Fall field cricket, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Fall field cricket Gryllus pennsylvanicus

Often seen · after dark

The familiar mellow “chirp…chirp…chirp” from the ground and leaf litter, day into night.

Season
Aug–Oct
Months
August to October
Time of night
dark, day

Hear the fall field cricket in the app

Gray treefrog, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Gray treefrog Hyla versicolor

Often seen · after dark

A short, flute-like resonant trill from up in the trees on warm, humid nights.

Season
Apr–Jul
Months
April to July
Time of night
dark

Hear the gray treefrog in the app

Green frog, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Fisher · cc-by

Green frog Lithobates clamitans

Often seen · after dark

A single, loose “gunk” like a plucked banjo string. Often one, then a lazy reply.

Season
May–Aug
Months
May to August
Time of night
dark, day

Hear the green frog in the app

Ground crickets Allonemobius spp.

Often seen · after dark

High, soft, continuous trills that blend into the steady background hum of a late-summer night.

Season
Aug–Oct
Months
August to October
Time of night
dark

Hear the ground crickets in the app

Ovenbird, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla

Often seen

An emphatic, ringing “teacher-TEACHER-TEACHER” rising through the daytime forest; also a jumbled flight song at night.

Season
May–Jul
Months
May to July
Time of night
day, dark

Hear the ovenbird in the app

Raccoon, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Maura · cc-by

Raccoon Procyon lotor

Often seen · after dark

Chitters, purrs, growls, and eerie tremolo screams, often two squabbling over food.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark
If it startles you
Those growls and screams by the cooler are raccoons arguing. Secure your food and they'll move on.

Hear the raccoon in the app

Snowy tree cricket, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Brett Ortler · cc-by

Snowy tree cricket Oecanthus fultoni

Often seen · after dark

A pure, pulsing chirp that all sync together. This is the “thermometer cricket”: count chirps in 13 s, add 40, for the temperature in °F.

Season
Jul–Oct
Months
July to October
Time of night
dark

Hear the snowy tree cricket in the app

Spring peeper, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
mklockwood · cc-by

Spring peeper Pseudacris crucifer

Often seen · after dark

A single high, rising “peep” × a thousand — a deafening sleigh-bell wall of sound from every wet low spot.

Season
Mar–May
Months
March to May
Time of night
dark, dawn

Hear the spring peeper in the app

The public shooting range Human · sound source

Often seen

Distant, rhythmic flat “pops” from the public range off National Pike, near the I-68 corridor. The sound carries a couple miles on still mornings.

Season
Year-round (weekends loudest)
Time of night
day
If it startles you
It's the public range, not an emergency. Loudest on still weekend mornings. Wed–Mon 10am–sunset (Sun from noon), closed Tuesdays. Call HQ to confirm.

Hear the the public shooting range in the app

White-tailed deer, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Edoro · cc-by

White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus

Often seen · after dark

An explosive, whistling “whoosh” snort/blow when it catches your scent — then hooves crashing off through the brush.

Season
Year-round (vocal in fall rut)
Time of night
dark, dawn
If it startles you
That sudden snort right outside the tent is a deer telling you it's spooked, not a threat.

Hear the white-tailed deer in the app

Wild turkey, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Often seen

Gobbling at first light; a startling clatter of wingbeats as birds fly down from the roost trees.

Season
Year-round (loudest spring)
Time of night
dawn

Hear the wild turkey in the app

American beaver, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Rodney Campbell · cc-by

American beaver Castor canadensis

Sometimes seen · after dark

A sudden, cannon-like tail-slap on the water, a warning that carries across a still pond at night.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark
If it startles you
That loud slap on the water is a beaver's warning, not a person.

Hear the american beaver in the app

American woodcock, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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American woodcock Scolopax minor

Sometimes seen

A nasal, buzzy “peent” from the ground at dusk, then a twittering sky-dance display flight.

Season
Mar–Apr
Months
March to April
Time of night
dawn

Hear the american woodcock in the app

Big brown bat, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
botanygirl · cc-by

Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus

Sometimes seen · after dark

Mostly ultrasonic, but you may catch faint social chitters and the flutter of wings over the clearing at dusk.

Season
Apr–Oct
Months
April to October
Time of night
dark

Hear the big brown bat in the app

Cope's gray treefrog, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Cope's gray treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis

Sometimes seen · after dark

A faster, harsher, buzzier trill than the gray treefrog. The two look identical and differ mostly in speed. In far-western Maryland the ordinary gray treefrog is the common twin, and Cope’s faster, harsher trill is the scarcer catch here.

Season
Apr–Jul
Months
April to July
Time of night
dark

Hear the cope's gray treefrog in the app

Coyote, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Alina Martin · cc-by

Coyote Canis latrans

Sometimes seen · after dark

A rising chorus of yips, yaps, and howls, often set off by a siren or a train.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark
If it startles you
A yip-howl chorus can sound like a big pack closing in. It's usually just two or three, and farther off than it seems.

Hear the coyote in the app

Fork-tailed bush katydid, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Fork-tailed bush katydid Scudderia furcata

Sometimes seen · after dark

A short, lisping “tzip” repeated at intervals from the shrubbery.

Season
Aug–Oct
Months
August to October
Time of night
dark

Hear the fork-tailed bush katydid in the app

Fowler's toad, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Fowler's toad Anaxyrus fowleri

Sometimes seen · after dark

A short, nasal, unmusical “w-a-a-a-h,” like a crying baby lamb.

Season
May–Jul
Months
May to July
Time of night
dark

Hear the fowler's toad in the app

Freight train (Potomac line) Human · sound source

Sometimes seen · after dark

A far-off horn and low rumble drifting up from the Potomac valley: CSX freight on the old B&O line, which runs the West Virginia bank across the river. (The Western Maryland Railway grade on this side went quiet in 1975. You can hike it.)

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark, day

Hear the freight train (potomac line) in the app

Great blue heron, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Matt Felperin · cc-by

Great blue heron Ardea herodias

Sometimes seen

A harsh, prehistoric “FRAHNK” squawk, usually as one flushes off the creek or passes overhead at dusk.

Season
Mar–Oct
Months
March to October
Time of night
dark, dawn
If it startles you
That dinosaur squawk overhead is just a heron, startled off the water.

Hear the great blue heron in the app

Great horned owl, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
cc0

Great horned owl Bubo virginianus

Sometimes seen · after dark

Deep, soft “ho-ho-hoooo, hoo, hoo” hoots; pairs answer each other, most vocal in the late-winter courtship weeks.

Season
Peaks Dec–Feb
Months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Time of night
dark

Hear the great horned owl in the app

Greater anglewing katydid, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Greater anglewing katydid Microcentrum rhombifolium

Sometimes seen · after dark

A soft, high, lisping “tzeet…tzeet” plus a rapid ticking, from shrubs and low trees.

Season
Aug–Oct
Months
August to October
Time of night
dark

Hear the greater anglewing katydid in the app

Hermit thrush, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
cc0

Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus

Sometimes seen

A clear opening whistle, then a shimmering ethereal cascade — the most beautiful voice in the woods, at dawn and dusk.

Season
Apr–May, Oct
Months
Apr, May, Oct
Time of night
dawn

Hear the hermit thrush in the app

Interstate 68 Human · sound source

Sometimes seen · after dark

A low, steady wash of traffic from I-68 along the forest's north edge — a distant hush that never quite stops.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark, day
If it startles you
Loudest at the overflow and northern sites near the highway; it fades to nothing deeper in the forest.

Hear the interstate 68 in the app

Killdeer, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
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Killdeer Charadrius vociferus

Sometimes seen · after dark

A strident, repeated “kill-DEER, kill-DEER,” often given on the wing well after dark.

Season
Mar–Jul
Months
March to July
Time of night
dark

Hear the killdeer in the app

Red fox, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Matt Felperin · cc-by

Red fox Vulpes vulpes

Sometimes seen · after dark

A single, harsh, rising shriek in the dark, often repeated: the notorious “fox scream.”

Season
Peaks Jan–Feb
Months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Time of night
dark
If it startles you
It sounds exactly like a person screaming. It's a red fox marking territory in breeding season — harmless.

Hear the red fox in the app

Southern flying squirrel, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
cc0

Southern flying squirrel Glaucomys volans

Sometimes seen · after dark

High, soft, insect-like chirps and twitters from the canopy. Easy to mistake for a bird or a cricket.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark

Hear the southern flying squirrel in the app

Upland chorus frog, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Dominic · cc-by

Upland chorus frog Pseudacris feriarum

Sometimes seen · after dark

A rising “crreeek,” like a fingernail dragged down a stiff comb. Early spring, from flooded fields.

Season
Feb–Apr
Months
February to April
Time of night
dark, day

Hear the upland chorus frog in the app

Veery, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Zachary Dankowicz · cc-by

Veery Catharus fuscescens

Sometimes seen

A breezy, downward-spiraling “vee-ur, vee-ur,” like a flute poured down a drainpipe, at dusk in moist woods.

Season
May–Jul
Months
May to July
Time of night
dawn, dark

Hear the veery in the app

Virginia opossum, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
cc0

Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana

Sometimes seen · after dark

A low hiss, click, or growl if cornered. Otherwise it's silent as it shuffles through camp.

Season
Year-round
Time of night
dark

Hear the virginia opossum in the app

Wood frog, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
froggymum · cc-by

Wood frog Lithobates sylvaticus

Sometimes seen

A soft, duck-like clucking chuckle. It's the first frog of the year, out on warm late-winter rains at vernal pools.

Season
Late Feb–Mar
Months
February to April
Time of night
dark, day

Hear the wood frog in the app

Black bear, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Alina Martin · cc-by

Black bear Ursus americanus

Rarely seen · after dark

Rarely vocal. More often it's brush moving downhill, a jaw-pop, or a low huff.

Season
Warm months
Months
April to October
Time of night
dark
If it startles you
Store food properly and give it room. It wants your cooler, not you. A huff and jaw-pop mean ‘back off,’ so do.

Hear the black bear in the app

Bobcat, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Mark Eanes · cc-by

Bobcat Lynx rufus

Rarely seen · after dark

Rare and startling: a hoarse scream, growl, or yowl in the dark of the breeding season.

Season
Feb–Mar
Months
February to March
Time of night
dark
If it startles you
A bobcat's breeding-season scream is unnerving but harmless. It wants nothing to do with you.

Hear the bobcat in the app

Chuck-will's-widow, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Alina Martin · cc-by

Chuck-will's-widow Antrostomus carolinensis

Rarely seen · after dark

A rolling, burry cousin of the whip-poor-will, chanting “chuck-will's-WID-ow” at the northern edge of its range.

Season
May–Jul
Months
May to July
Time of night
dark

Hear the chuck-will's-widow in the app

Northern saw-whet owl, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Matt Felperin · cc-by

Northern saw-whet owl Aegolius acadicus

Rarely seen · after dark

A monotonous, evenly-spaced “toot…toot…toot” like a truck backing up, mostly migration and winter in the mountains.

Season
Oct–Mar
Months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Time of night
dark

Hear the northern saw-whet owl in the app

Periodical cicada Magicicada spp. (Brood V, next ~2033)

Rarely seen

Once every 17 years, an overwhelming, otherworldly daytime roar from millions of insects at once.

Season
May–Jun (emergence years)
Months
May to June
Time of night
day
If it startles you
Not a swarm threat. Harmless, just astonishingly loud for a few weeks.

Hear the periodical cicada in the app

Southern leopard frog, the animal behind one of the night sounds at Green Ridge
Riccardo Marchingiglio · cc-by

Southern leopard frog Lithobates sphenocephalus

Rarely seen · after dark

A short, chuckling laugh and low “chuck” notes from marshy edges. In Maryland, though, this is mostly a species of the coastal lowlands; out here that chuckle is far more likely the very similar pickerel frog.

Season
Mar–May
Months
March to May
Time of night
dark

Hear the southern leopard frog in the app

The rest of the nature guide