Mysterious Sounds Disturb Florida Residents at Night Likely Caused by Black Drum Fish During Spawning Season
Sounds of the Black Drum Fish. (Video: National Aquarium)
Scientists may have pinpointed the source of the mysterious noise that has been waking residents in Tampa, Florida, at night, as reported by Smithsonian on February 1. This noise, likely produced by the Black Drum Fish (Pogonias cromis) during its spawning season, is loud enough to occasionally cause homes to vibrate. These fish can create low-frequency drum-like sounds by flexing their muscles against their swim bladders.
The Black Drum Fish typically spawns on winter nights. This might explain why residents hear the noise more frequently during this time of year.
The Black Drum Fish is quite popular among anglers and can grow up to 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) in length. They have large gray or black scales and a lower jaw with whisker-like barbels. Black Drum Fish voraciously consume fish, shellfish, crabs, shrimp, clams, and many other invertebrates with their strong teeth. They often inhabit estuaries, river mouths, and bays, and even offshore.
The mysterious sounds in Tampa have been reported since at least 2021. Since then, local residents have proposed various theories about the noise’s origin, including a military base, a party boat, or construction activities. Over time, residents grew increasingly frustrated and decided to fund a study to investigate the noise. Scientist James Locascio, who manages the fish acoustics and environmental ecology program at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, is leading this research.
Locascio agreed to deploy underwater microphones for two months to gather data. The team reached their fundraising goal earlier this week, and Locascio is now seeking potential locations to install recording devices.
It is unusual for underwater sounds to travel through the air. However, the noise from the Black Drum Fish could be transmitted to residences through tunnels or the ground. There is also a possibility that the population of Black Drum Fish in Tampa Bay has significantly increased for some reason recently.
“It’s a low-frequency sound, which travels better and farther, and is more effective at transmitting through different environments,” Locascio explained. If the fish are indeed the cause of the sleepless nights, residents will have little choice but to wear earplugs and wait for the spawning season to pass.
