Weird animal noise at night?

Question

Around 4am I was awoken by a loud screeching noise at the back of my house.

We live along a river, were there is a lot of wild life, but I have never heard a noise like this before.

It lasted for about an hour and it was a screeching about every minute. Once there was a growl type of noise following the screech.

I checked the internet, thinking it could be a screech owl, but learned that a screech owl has at least 4 rapid screeches in a row. This was definitely not what this was.

I'm thinking maybe a fox, but then learned that a fox does not growl.

Any ideas? I'm kind of freaked out.

It was a very frightening sound.

I live in South Western Ontario in Canada, an hour from Toronto.

Answer 1

sounds like a fisher cat

Answer 2

Could just have been a hot couple making out !.

Answer 3

maybe it was a banshee!!!

Answer 4

Barn owl

they screech a lot, and repeat it many times

Answer 5

I agree with the fisher cat.

http://www.catcustomer.com/fisher-cat/