Baby raccoons start vocalizing right away. Newborns produce a whiny or chattering sound to let their mothers know they are hungry; it is similar to a baby bird’s cry. At three weeks of age, they start using hisses, growls, and alarm snorts. Adult raccoons are also quite vocal and will use growls, snarls, and hisses when they are defending their den or trying to scare off potential predators.