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Overall, there's a very clear identity problem here. Correct usage, collectively, makes up 23.6% of examples, and [=ZCEs=] and random misuse make up over three quarters of the examples. There is also an evident problem with this being confused with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which gets mixed into this even when examples of the former aren't listed as this trope. The name also doesn't indicate that it's about wolves, which seems to be why non-canine examples get mixed in.
to:
Overall, there's a very clear identity problem here. Correct usage, collectively, makes up 23.6% of examples, and [=ZCEs=] and random misuse make up what's left -- which is over three quarters of the examples. There is also an evident problem with this being confused with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which gets mixed into this even when examples of the former aren't listed as this trope. The name also doesn't indicate that it's about wolves, which seems to be why non-canine examples get mixed in.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 132,133 (click to see context) from:
Overall, there's a very clear identity problem here. Correct usage, collectively, makes up 23.6% of examples, and [=ZCEs=] and random misuse make up well over half of the total examples. There is also an evident problem with this being confused with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which gets mixed into this even when examples of the former aren't listed as this trope. The name also doesn't indicate that it's about wolves, which seems to be why non-canine examples get mixed in.
to:
Overall, there's a very clear identity problem here. Correct usage, collectively, makes up 23.6% of examples, and [=ZCEs=] and random misuse make up well over half three quarters of the total examples. There is also an evident problem with this being confused with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which gets mixed into this even when examples of the former aren't listed as this trope. The name also doesn't indicate that it's about wolves, which seems to be why non-canine examples get mixed in.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
The trope's basic identity seems to encompass two distinct but closely related concepts: wolves howling at dusk being used to note the onset of night time, and wolves howling late at night to reinforce a creepy setting or establish a fearful mood. In both cases, the description goes, the actual wolves are rarely seen. This is contrasted with CockADoodleDawn for the animal sound heralding the change from day to night.
to:
The trope's basic identity seems to encompass two distinct but closely related concepts: wolves howling at dusk being used to note the onset of night time, and wolves howling late at night to reinforce a creepy setting or establish a fearful mood. In both cases, the description goes, the actual wolves are rarely seen. This is contrasted with CockADoodleDawn for the animal sound heralding the change from day night to night.
day.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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Added DiffLines:
The trope's basic identity seems to encompass two distinct but closely related concepts: wolves howling at dusk being used to note the onset of night time, and wolves howling late at night to reinforce a creepy setting or establish a fearful mood. In both cases, the description goes, the actual wolves are rarely seen. This is contrasted with CockADoodleDawn for the animal sound heralding the change from day to night.
The most immediately concerning thing is potential overlap with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which generally encompasses wolves, werewolves, and generally lupine creatures howling in a moonward direction. There is potential ground to distinguish the two concepts -- one is a mood and setting signifier, and one plays on associations with a specific celestial object. However, I am not convinced that this distinction is present in the way in which the trope is used, due to the primary issue here -- a mess of a page and severe misuse.
The main page is soft split, so let's keep that distinction. All formatting is as it is on the current page.
[[folder:Type A: At Dusk Version]]
* When Ash's Rockruff evolves into the appropriately named Dusk Form Lycanroc in ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', it joins its other two forms (the Midday owned by Olivia, and Midnight owned by Gladion) in howling into sunset. '''Correct Use.'''
* Occurs in three installments of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series, paired with CockADoodleDawn. Wolves howl whenever night falls. '''Correct Use.'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' '''ZCE'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' '''ZCE'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' '''ZCE'''
*** Also, when unlocking the howling stones, no matter what time you do the first minigame, you are transported to another area where it is AlwaysNight to do the second howling minigame. '''Correct Use, but of the other type.'''
* Happens in ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}''. '''ZCE'''
* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'' has a wolf howl at 18:00 to tell the player that night has fallen (and a rooster crowing to indicate daybreak). '''Correct Use.'''
* When you visit Garoh in ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'' for the first time (at night), mournful wolf howls are heard [[spoiler:(because it's a village of werewolves)]]. Sadly, the version of the BGM with howls is not part of the soundtrack. '''Correct Use, but of the other type.'''
** Though the version without the howls is a darned fine song in its own right. '''Editorializing, but that's another problem.'''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Type B: Late at Night Version:]]
* Boma in ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'' does this before battle, when he [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent changes into wolf-man form]]. '''ZCE'''
* ''Film/{{Dracula 1931}}'': "The children of the night! What beautiful music they make!" '''ZCE'''
* ''Film/LoveAtFirstBite'': "Children of the night! Shut up!" '''ZCE'''
* ''Film/YoungFrankenstein:'' "Werewolf? There wolf. There, castle". '''ZCE'''
* Spoofed in ''Film/AirplaneIITheSequel'' when a camera shot of the night sky with a wolf howl and ChirpingCrickets tracks down to reveal it's actually a base on the Moon. '''(Parody of) Correct Use.'''
!!!Literature:
* Holo from ''Literature/SpiceAndWolf'' does this on occasion, even when in human form. '''ZCE'''
* In ''Literature/AWolfInTheSoul'', [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Greg]] joins in howling late at night with the jackals who live in the forest just outside of Jerusalem. '''Correct Use'''
!!!Music:
* Music/{{Ylvis}}'s "The Fox" parodies this with an {{Auto Tune}}d howl. '''ZCE'''
* Music/HowlinWolf: His singing voice was compared to howlin' wolves, thus earning him his stage name. His single "Moanin' At Moonlight" and the album cover from ''Music/MoaninInTheMoonlight'' also delve into this trope. '''Ambigous. The reference to the moon suggests correct use, but otherwise this doesn't mention nighttime.'''
* Los Redondos' Capricho Magyar ends with a pack of wolves howling. '''Doesn't mention nighttime'''
!!!Video Games:
* ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' features howling wolves prominently in the background ambiance of various "spooky areas", most notably Mad Monster Mansion in the first game and Witchyworld's "horror zone" in the sequel. '''Correct Use.'''
* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' parodies the above ''"What beautiful music they make!"'' line. '''ZCE'''
!!!Western Animation:
* In ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', the [[SpeciesSurname Wolfe]] family do this on their rooftop. To emphasize that they consider Heffer to be a part of their family (despite not actually being a wolf), Heffer joins them (only instead of howling, he says "MOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!") '''Doesn't mention nighttime'''
[[/folder]]
* Correct use: 6/22 – 27.3%
* Correct use, but miscategorized: 2/22 – 9.1%
* Doesn't mention nighttime: 3/22 – 13.6%
* Plain ZCE: 11/22 -- 50%
22 examples at a generous count, half of that ZCE, and the rest are a mess. Pretty bad, but nothing some vigorous crosswicking couldn't fix. So I went to do that, and here is what I found. Since only 71 (73 counting the Laconic and Playing With) pages link here, I checked all of them.
[[folder:External wick check]]
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Index, defines trope using "start of night" definition.
* CanineConfusion: Lists this as a subtrope. Not clear why, and no description provided.
* ClifftopCaterwauling: Used to pothole "wolves" when mention that they only howl when they have a cliff to stand on.
* CockADoodleDawn: Defines this trope as its opposite number, "when wolves howl at dusk". Defines WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon in the same manner.
* HowlOfSorrow: Mentioned in a see-also with no context.
* SillySpook: Used to pothole dogs baying at the moon.
* ThisIndexBarks: Index, defines trope using "creepy atmosphere" definition.
* TwentyFourHourTropeClock: Index, no definition.
* ThisIndexBarks: Index, defines trope using "creepy atmosphere" definition.
* WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon: Two mentions. Described in the description as "when a wolf's howl is used to signify the change from day to night", and used to pothole "the rising of the moon" in an example. Counting this as two examples.
* Animation.InvestigationHeldByKolobki: Sparse context, but mentions that the example is paired with a shot of the moon.
* Characters.{{Battlarts}}: ZCE
* Characters.BlushBlush: A wolf howls at the moon.
* Characters.DarkSoulsIIIDLCCharacters: Wolf enemies howl to alert other wolves to player's presence. (Note: I had originally cut this when I thought this would just take some light cleanup; I'm keeping it here because the inbound links are few enough that it might skew results.)
* Characters.EldenRingEnemiesAndBosses: Dog enemies howl to alert others to player's presence. (Same as above.)
* Characters.EldenRingSecondaryCharacters: Linked in a description of WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon.
* Characters.HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraftAlternateHeroes: Wolf character uses howls as emotes.
* Characters.HungerGamesSimulationPlayersAToM: ZCE
* Characters.JewelpetMagicalGreenJewelpets: ZCE
* Characters.{{Metro}}: Dog enemies howl when aggroed.
* Characters.OneStormyNight: Wolf stands on a cliff and howls to the sky. No mention of what time this happens.
* Characters.PokemonGenerationVIIRowletToComfey: Puppy {{Mon}} howls when the sun sets, especially when close to evolving into a wolf Mon.
* Characters.PuyoPuyoCompileMinor: ZCE
* Characters.RhythmThiefAndTheEmperorsTreasure: ZCE
* Characters.SpookyMonthSkidAndPumpFamilies: Kid in skeleton costume howls to call another kid.
* Characters.SurvivorsOfTheCalamityOtherHyruleans: Wolf spirits howl when about to transform into humans.
* Characters.TheLegendOfZeldaVillainsAndEnemies: Wolves howl when day transitions to night.
* Characters.TheLittleEngineThatCould: Wolf howls as a threat.
* Characters.TheMoomins: Dog howls to contact wolves.
* Characters.VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlinesSabbat: Bestial vampires during the night.
* ComicBook/BeastsOfBurden: Dogs howl to communicate.
* Fanfic/TheSteepPathAhead: ZCE
* Fanfic/UnleashingOfADarkNight: ZCE
* Film/{{Benji}}: Wolf howls during night sequences.
* Film/{{Donor}}: Wolves howl while hunting lost character.
* Film/FangsOfTheLivingDead: Wolves howl to reinforce spooky setting.
* Film/MotorHomeMassacre: ZCE
* Film/NosferatuTheVampyre: Wolves howling reinforces a creepy atmosphere.
* Film/ScarsOfDracula: Wolves howl as background to a monologue about freedom and its absence.
* Film/TheFinalTerror: Character is told to howl like a wolf as a joke.
* Film/ToWalkInvisible: Two human characters howl together. No other context.
* JustForFun/DaringDo: ZCE
* Literature/AWolfInTheSoul: ZCE
* Literature/ScampTheAdventuresOfALittlePuppy: Dog puppy howls instead of sleeping.
* Literature/ScaryStoriesToTellInTheDark: Wolves howl at night before attacking.
* Literature/Viy: Loud howling during a very creepy event.
* Music/HowlinWolf: A singer's voice is compared to a wolf howling.
* Music/MoaninInTheMoonlight: A wolf is shown howling to the moon.
* Quotes/LoanShark: Potholing a howling noise in an unrelated quote. No wolves are involved.
* Recap/AnimorphsTheCapture: Wolf howls to alert other wolves.
* Recap/AnimorphsTheEncounter: Wolves instinctively howls to alert other wolves.
* Recap/GameOfThronesS1E2TheKingsroad: Wolves howl during a northward journey.
* Recap/GravityFallsS1E13BossMabel: ZCE
* Recap/MadMenS7E1TimeZones: A coyote howls.
* Recap/MarthaSpeaksS1E9DownOnTheFarm: A howling coyote unnerves characters staying at a farm.
* Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown: Wolf howls in the background of an OldDarkHouse.
* Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville: A wolf howling at night spooks an already nervous character.
* Recap/SupernaturalS08E14TrialAndError: A wolf howls.
* Recap/TheRealGhostbusterS4E2Poultrygeist: Subversion of howling during creepy moments.
* TabletopGame/TheYellowKing: Monstrous hounds damage souls with their howling.
* Theatre/TheSolveItSquadReturns: Wolves howl during DramaticThunder.
* Trivia/CallOfDutyZombies: Pothole for "wolf howls".
* VideoGame/AtomZombieSmasher: Wolves howl at the start of night.
* VideoGame/StrandedDeep: "Bats do it." That's the example in its entirety.
* VideoGame/TheBardsTale: Wolves howl to call more wolves. Referred to as an aversion.
* VideoGame/TheLongDark: Wolves howl to communicate. Referred to as an aversion.
* VideoGame/TheyHunger: Wolves howl in the wilderness.
* VideoGame/TownOfSalem: A wolf howl signals that start of the game's night phase.
* VideoGame/WolfQuest: Listed as one entry with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon. Wolves can howl whenever they please.
* VisualNovel/BlackWolvesSaga: "The wolf pack has the tendency to do this before an attack." No further context.
[[/folder]]
* Wolves howl at the onset of night: 7/72 – 9.7%
* Wolves howl to reinforce creepy or frightening atmospheres: 10/72 – 13.9%
* Wolves howl to communicate or summon more wolves: 8/72 – 11.1%
* WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon: 7/72 – 9.7%
* Wolves howl for whatever other reasons: 24/72 – 33.3%
* Non-canines howling: 5/72 – 6.9%
* ZCE: 11/72 – 15.3%
Overall, there's a very clear identity problem here. Correct usage, collectively, makes up 23.6% of examples, and [=ZCEs=] and random misuse make up well over half of the total examples. There is also an evident problem with this being confused with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which gets mixed into this even when examples of the former aren't listed as this trope. The name also doesn't indicate that it's about wolves, which seems to be why non-canine examples get mixed in.
I have mixed feelings here. The basic concepts of "wolves how to mark the onset of night" and "howling wolves are used reinforce creepy settings" are sound, but keeping them mixed with each other is definitely leading to trope dilution. By the same line of reasoning, folding this into WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon would probably just worsen things, because then you'd be defining the trope as "wolves howl to show their association with the moon ''and'' to signal the fall of night ''and'' to reinforce creepy atmospheres", and by that point you've basically just broadened it to "wolves howl".
My instinct is that "wolves how to mark the onset of night" can probably be separated into its own thing, although it would need a more specific name to avoid the current trope's issues. "Howling wolves are used reinforce creepy settings", however, can probably be expanded to include other animal noises being used for this general purpose -- I feel like owls hooting and ravens cawing get put to similar uses, so something like OminousAmbientAnimalNoises or what have you might be viable.
----
The most immediately concerning thing is potential overlap with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which generally encompasses wolves, werewolves, and generally lupine creatures howling in a moonward direction. There is potential ground to distinguish the two concepts -- one is a mood and setting signifier, and one plays on associations with a specific celestial object. However, I am not convinced that this distinction is present in the way in which the trope is used, due to the primary issue here -- a mess of a page and severe misuse.
The main page is soft split, so let's keep that distinction. All formatting is as it is on the current page.
[[folder:Type A: At Dusk Version]]
* When Ash's Rockruff evolves into the appropriately named Dusk Form Lycanroc in ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', it joins its other two forms (the Midday owned by Olivia, and Midnight owned by Gladion) in howling into sunset. '''Correct Use.'''
* Occurs in three installments of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series, paired with CockADoodleDawn. Wolves howl whenever night falls. '''Correct Use.'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' '''ZCE'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' '''ZCE'''
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' '''ZCE'''
*** Also, when unlocking the howling stones, no matter what time you do the first minigame, you are transported to another area where it is AlwaysNight to do the second howling minigame. '''Correct Use, but of the other type.'''
* Happens in ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}''. '''ZCE'''
* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'' has a wolf howl at 18:00 to tell the player that night has fallen (and a rooster crowing to indicate daybreak). '''Correct Use.'''
* When you visit Garoh in ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'' for the first time (at night), mournful wolf howls are heard [[spoiler:(because it's a village of werewolves)]]. Sadly, the version of the BGM with howls is not part of the soundtrack. '''Correct Use, but of the other type.'''
** Though the version without the howls is a darned fine song in its own right. '''Editorializing, but that's another problem.'''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Type B: Late at Night Version:]]
* Boma in ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'' does this before battle, when he [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent changes into wolf-man form]]. '''ZCE'''
* ''Film/{{Dracula 1931}}'': "The children of the night! What beautiful music they make!" '''ZCE'''
* ''Film/LoveAtFirstBite'': "Children of the night! Shut up!" '''ZCE'''
* ''Film/YoungFrankenstein:'' "Werewolf? There wolf. There, castle". '''ZCE'''
* Spoofed in ''Film/AirplaneIITheSequel'' when a camera shot of the night sky with a wolf howl and ChirpingCrickets tracks down to reveal it's actually a base on the Moon. '''(Parody of) Correct Use.'''
!!!Literature:
* Holo from ''Literature/SpiceAndWolf'' does this on occasion, even when in human form. '''ZCE'''
* In ''Literature/AWolfInTheSoul'', [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Greg]] joins in howling late at night with the jackals who live in the forest just outside of Jerusalem. '''Correct Use'''
!!!Music:
* Music/{{Ylvis}}'s "The Fox" parodies this with an {{Auto Tune}}d howl. '''ZCE'''
* Music/HowlinWolf: His singing voice was compared to howlin' wolves, thus earning him his stage name. His single "Moanin' At Moonlight" and the album cover from ''Music/MoaninInTheMoonlight'' also delve into this trope. '''Ambigous. The reference to the moon suggests correct use, but otherwise this doesn't mention nighttime.'''
* Los Redondos' Capricho Magyar ends with a pack of wolves howling. '''Doesn't mention nighttime'''
!!!Video Games:
* ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' features howling wolves prominently in the background ambiance of various "spooky areas", most notably Mad Monster Mansion in the first game and Witchyworld's "horror zone" in the sequel. '''Correct Use.'''
* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' parodies the above ''"What beautiful music they make!"'' line. '''ZCE'''
!!!Western Animation:
* In ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', the [[SpeciesSurname Wolfe]] family do this on their rooftop. To emphasize that they consider Heffer to be a part of their family (despite not actually being a wolf), Heffer joins them (only instead of howling, he says "MOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!") '''Doesn't mention nighttime'''
[[/folder]]
* Correct use: 6/22 – 27.3%
* Correct use, but miscategorized: 2/22 – 9.1%
* Doesn't mention nighttime: 3/22 – 13.6%
* Plain ZCE: 11/22 -- 50%
22 examples at a generous count, half of that ZCE, and the rest are a mess. Pretty bad, but nothing some vigorous crosswicking couldn't fix. So I went to do that, and here is what I found. Since only 71 (73 counting the Laconic and Playing With) pages link here, I checked all of them.
[[folder:External wick check]]
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Index, defines trope using "start of night" definition.
* CanineConfusion: Lists this as a subtrope. Not clear why, and no description provided.
* ClifftopCaterwauling: Used to pothole "wolves" when mention that they only howl when they have a cliff to stand on.
* CockADoodleDawn: Defines this trope as its opposite number, "when wolves howl at dusk". Defines WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon in the same manner.
* HowlOfSorrow: Mentioned in a see-also with no context.
* SillySpook: Used to pothole dogs baying at the moon.
* ThisIndexBarks: Index, defines trope using "creepy atmosphere" definition.
* TwentyFourHourTropeClock: Index, no definition.
* ThisIndexBarks: Index, defines trope using "creepy atmosphere" definition.
* WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon: Two mentions. Described in the description as "when a wolf's howl is used to signify the change from day to night", and used to pothole "the rising of the moon" in an example. Counting this as two examples.
* Animation.InvestigationHeldByKolobki: Sparse context, but mentions that the example is paired with a shot of the moon.
* Characters.{{Battlarts}}: ZCE
* Characters.BlushBlush: A wolf howls at the moon.
* Characters.DarkSoulsIIIDLCCharacters: Wolf enemies howl to alert other wolves to player's presence. (Note: I had originally cut this when I thought this would just take some light cleanup; I'm keeping it here because the inbound links are few enough that it might skew results.)
* Characters.EldenRingEnemiesAndBosses: Dog enemies howl to alert others to player's presence. (Same as above.)
* Characters.EldenRingSecondaryCharacters: Linked in a description of WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon.
* Characters.HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraftAlternateHeroes: Wolf character uses howls as emotes.
* Characters.HungerGamesSimulationPlayersAToM: ZCE
* Characters.JewelpetMagicalGreenJewelpets: ZCE
* Characters.{{Metro}}: Dog enemies howl when aggroed.
* Characters.OneStormyNight: Wolf stands on a cliff and howls to the sky. No mention of what time this happens.
* Characters.PokemonGenerationVIIRowletToComfey: Puppy {{Mon}} howls when the sun sets, especially when close to evolving into a wolf Mon.
* Characters.PuyoPuyoCompileMinor: ZCE
* Characters.RhythmThiefAndTheEmperorsTreasure: ZCE
* Characters.SpookyMonthSkidAndPumpFamilies: Kid in skeleton costume howls to call another kid.
* Characters.SurvivorsOfTheCalamityOtherHyruleans: Wolf spirits howl when about to transform into humans.
* Characters.TheLegendOfZeldaVillainsAndEnemies: Wolves howl when day transitions to night.
* Characters.TheLittleEngineThatCould: Wolf howls as a threat.
* Characters.TheMoomins: Dog howls to contact wolves.
* Characters.VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlinesSabbat: Bestial vampires during the night.
* ComicBook/BeastsOfBurden: Dogs howl to communicate.
* Fanfic/TheSteepPathAhead: ZCE
* Fanfic/UnleashingOfADarkNight: ZCE
* Film/{{Benji}}: Wolf howls during night sequences.
* Film/{{Donor}}: Wolves howl while hunting lost character.
* Film/FangsOfTheLivingDead: Wolves howl to reinforce spooky setting.
* Film/MotorHomeMassacre: ZCE
* Film/NosferatuTheVampyre: Wolves howling reinforces a creepy atmosphere.
* Film/ScarsOfDracula: Wolves howl as background to a monologue about freedom and its absence.
* Film/TheFinalTerror: Character is told to howl like a wolf as a joke.
* Film/ToWalkInvisible: Two human characters howl together. No other context.
* JustForFun/DaringDo: ZCE
* Literature/AWolfInTheSoul: ZCE
* Literature/ScampTheAdventuresOfALittlePuppy: Dog puppy howls instead of sleeping.
* Literature/ScaryStoriesToTellInTheDark: Wolves howl at night before attacking.
* Literature/Viy: Loud howling during a very creepy event.
* Music/HowlinWolf: A singer's voice is compared to a wolf howling.
* Music/MoaninInTheMoonlight: A wolf is shown howling to the moon.
* Quotes/LoanShark: Potholing a howling noise in an unrelated quote. No wolves are involved.
* Recap/AnimorphsTheCapture: Wolf howls to alert other wolves.
* Recap/AnimorphsTheEncounter: Wolves instinctively howls to alert other wolves.
* Recap/GameOfThronesS1E2TheKingsroad: Wolves howl during a northward journey.
* Recap/GravityFallsS1E13BossMabel: ZCE
* Recap/MadMenS7E1TimeZones: A coyote howls.
* Recap/MarthaSpeaksS1E9DownOnTheFarm: A howling coyote unnerves characters staying at a farm.
* Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E19PuttingYourHoofDown: Wolf howls in the background of an OldDarkHouse.
* Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville: A wolf howling at night spooks an already nervous character.
* Recap/SupernaturalS08E14TrialAndError: A wolf howls.
* Recap/TheRealGhostbusterS4E2Poultrygeist: Subversion of howling during creepy moments.
* TabletopGame/TheYellowKing: Monstrous hounds damage souls with their howling.
* Theatre/TheSolveItSquadReturns: Wolves howl during DramaticThunder.
* Trivia/CallOfDutyZombies: Pothole for "wolf howls".
* VideoGame/AtomZombieSmasher: Wolves howl at the start of night.
* VideoGame/StrandedDeep: "Bats do it." That's the example in its entirety.
* VideoGame/TheBardsTale: Wolves howl to call more wolves. Referred to as an aversion.
* VideoGame/TheLongDark: Wolves howl to communicate. Referred to as an aversion.
* VideoGame/TheyHunger: Wolves howl in the wilderness.
* VideoGame/TownOfSalem: A wolf howl signals that start of the game's night phase.
* VideoGame/WolfQuest: Listed as one entry with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon. Wolves can howl whenever they please.
* VisualNovel/BlackWolvesSaga: "The wolf pack has the tendency to do this before an attack." No further context.
[[/folder]]
* Wolves howl at the onset of night: 7/72 – 9.7%
* Wolves howl to reinforce creepy or frightening atmospheres: 10/72 – 13.9%
* Wolves howl to communicate or summon more wolves: 8/72 – 11.1%
* WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon: 7/72 – 9.7%
* Wolves howl for whatever other reasons: 24/72 – 33.3%
* Non-canines howling: 5/72 – 6.9%
* ZCE: 11/72 – 15.3%
Overall, there's a very clear identity problem here. Correct usage, collectively, makes up 23.6% of examples, and [=ZCEs=] and random misuse make up well over half of the total examples. There is also an evident problem with this being confused with WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon, which gets mixed into this even when examples of the former aren't listed as this trope. The name also doesn't indicate that it's about wolves, which seems to be why non-canine examples get mixed in.
I have mixed feelings here. The basic concepts of "wolves how to mark the onset of night" and "howling wolves are used reinforce creepy settings" are sound, but keeping them mixed with each other is definitely leading to trope dilution. By the same line of reasoning, folding this into WolvesAlwaysHowlAtTheMoon would probably just worsen things, because then you'd be defining the trope as "wolves howl to show their association with the moon ''and'' to signal the fall of night ''and'' to reinforce creepy atmospheres", and by that point you've basically just broadened it to "wolves howl".
My instinct is that "wolves how to mark the onset of night" can probably be separated into its own thing, although it would need a more specific name to avoid the current trope's issues. "Howling wolves are used reinforce creepy settings", however, can probably be expanded to include other animal noises being used for this general purpose -- I feel like owls hooting and ravens cawing get put to similar uses, so something like OminousAmbientAnimalNoises or what have you might be viable.
----
