Ever heard this noise come out of an elk? | Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

You may hear a bloodcurdling screech, but this call is music to a female elk’s ears 🎶 In early fall, male elk fill the air with eerie shrieks to announce their intentions to nearby females. They produce these bugling calls by whistling and roaring through their vocal cords at the same time. The whistle component allows the call to travel a long distance, while the roar indicates the animal’s size: the lower the pitch, the larger the male. #AmericasNationalParks | National Geographic Animals

Robert Krulwich and Nate Milton’s animated short “Why Do Big Elk Sound So Little?” explores why massive elk have surprisingly high-pitched calls, defying the usual rule that bigger animals have deeper voices. | CBS Sunday Morning