Whether you’ve come across some in the wild, high on a hill, or you’re lucky enough to keep a few of your own on your homestead farm, goats are pretty interesting animals. These sheep-like animals stand out wherever they are, especially when they have horns. However, they also stand out because of the sounds that they make.
But how would you go about describing the sounds a goat makes? And what might those goat sounds and pontifications mean?
Well, we’ve got the answers for you! Below, you’ll find a breakdown of goat sounds – what they are, why they make them, what they may mean, and so on.
What Sounds Do Goats Make?
Put simply, goats typically make a noise that sounds something like a “baa”. You may think of this as the noise that a sheep makes, and you wouldn’t be far off, because sheep and goats are related after all!
This “baa” type sound is referred to as a “bleat”. There you have it, goats bleat and make a bleating sound.
Goats and sheep aren’t the only animals whose noises are described as bleating, calf and deer being among the others. But why do goats bleat? Well, they do so for many different reasons.
Just like humans have words for everything that they want or need, a goat will use its bleats to show different emotions and wants.
They may all sound the same to our ears, but there are lots of subtle differences that help other goats identify what a goat is communicating about.
Goats make very clear bleating sounds, but is there more to them?
What do the different types of bleat mean?
Why do they do them? Read on to find out!
What Do The Different Goat Sounds Mean?
Goats have a whole range of bleating sounds to help them express themselves to their fellow animals – and even try to get the help of the farmers looking after them, if they’re domesticated.
The bleats that goats make can differ in many ways, such as their volume, depth, and pitch.
Goat Danger and Alarm Sound
For example, if a goat is in desperate need or danger, the volume of their bleat might raise – just as a human would scream louder if they were in desperate need of help.
Similarly, their pitch or depth might reflect this, like a higher pitch might suggest even further desperation. Goats are known to make a kind of snorting-type bleat to alarm other goats of incoming danger.
Goat Hunger And Thirst Sound
Not that goats are just bleating out of danger, obviously! That’s a much rarer case, thankfully. On the whole, they’ll be doing their different varieties of bleats for other reasons, doing a range of baa’s for different needs. Like what? Well, they might be hungry, and asking other goats, or a farmer, for some food. Similarly, they might be thirsty, and using their different bleats to communicate for some water.
Goat Discovery Sound
Additionally, they could be communicating something that they’ve found to the other goats.
Perhaps they’ve found a particularly good patch of grass to munch or graze on, or maybe they’ve found a gently running stream that they can use to drink – or take a dip in, cooling off.
If they want to communicate these findings, they will alter their bleats in different ways, emphasizing the importance of what they’ve found.
Goat Mating Sound
There is, of course, goat match-making. Like all animals, they have to continue the species somehow.
As a result, goats have a bleating style that helps them attract a mate for, well, mating.
If a male goat has found a female goat that he likes the look of, they will hurry up to them and make a sort of grumbling-type bleat.
The low pitch and depth communicates their desires, and next thing you know there’s a few more kids running around (kids are baby goats).
Goat Family Bleat Sounds
Speaking of baby goats, there is also a pattern of bleating that families use. Apparently, baby goats (kids) immediately know their mother’s own bleats, which strengthens their bond and can be very helpful.
For example, if a kid has got separated from its mother, the mother can cry out with its own style of unique bleat. Their child should hear them and know exactly where they are.
Similarly, the mother can use their bleats to send coded warnings only to their child, warning of dangers or other things.
Interestingly, where a goat grows up actually affects their own bleats. A 2012 study in Animal Behavior found that the bleats of kids that were all raised together were actually more identical than when compared to the bleats of goats being raised separately.
This is like humans with accents, where our accents can change depending on who we spend time most with – some people lose their original accent, some people strengthen their accent.
It appears to be the same for goats, who get a kind of collective style of bleating depending on who they’ve grown up with.
Goat Loneliness Sound
Goats love to be in herds. They thrive off having others to talk to and be with, just like humans! It’s because of this that you may have seen a lone goat making a type of screaming bleat.
It may not be a scream, it could just be another strange bleating noise, but you may think it strange nonetheless.
No need to worry! It’s very likely because the goat is lonely and wants some company.
If you ever see your domesticated goat alone and bleating wildly to itself, it’s a good idea to go and get some other goats. They’ll be much happier for it!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To What Sounds Do Goats Make
Goats most often sound off with a bleat! As described above, the bleat may mean happiness, danger, or your goat may just be singing in the rain.
What Sound Does a Mountain Goat Make?
A mountain goat grows to be a large animal. The mountain goat is significantly larger and louder than our hobby farm goats. Most often a mountain goat makes a loud mewing sound.
Here’s a video that demonstrates the mewing sound a mountain goat makes.
Which Sound Does a Goat Make When Angry?
When a goat is angry, it most often makes a snorting type bleat; very much like when it is sounding danger or alarm.
Here’s a video of goat sounds and pictures!
Final Thoughts On What Is The Sound A Goat Makes
And there you have it! Goats make “baa” type noises more commonly referred to as bleats, and they do it for lots of different reasons – just like humans!
Goat bleats may all sound the same to our ears, but they have many subtle differences and meanings.
Through different volumes and pitches, or simply different patterns of noise, goats express feelings – hunger, thirst, attraction, family, danger.
Some bleats may be long, some may be short, it all depends on the expression and meaning at the heart of it.