Massachusetts Paranormal Institute

PURSUING THE PARANORMAL

THE "EYES" DON'T HAVE IT...THE "EARS" DO!

Fairly frequently during preliminary investigations I am asked by the homeowner whether or not it's possible that their dog or cat can see ghosts.  This usually comes up because of some odd behavior recently exhibited by the pet towards an area like an open doorway or a specific room, where no one is present. The dog may stare intently, and then turn its head in what looks to us like an effort on the dog's part to understand or comprehend something happening that we can't see.  With cats it's often the exact same behavior.  It may jump up on the back of a chair and stare with total concentration or arch its back and hiss into the adjoining room which is empty, or presumed to be so.  Armed with the evidence provided by science, I'd have to say it's not what they are seeing that bothers them, but what they are hearing.

Human hearing runs from about 20 cycles per second or 20 Hz (hertz), to around 20,000 Hz.  Our feline friend shares the lower range of 20 Hz with us and continue hear sounds all the way up to 64,000 Hz! Well past the 23,000 Hz for humans and dogs which, depending upon the breed, cap out around 45,000 Hz.  What's really interesting is that of all the land mammals mice can hear all the way up to 91,000 Hz and there's nobody else even close. So, potentially, the cause of many incidents of "pets seeing ghosts" may be those little vermin in the walls.

When I first learned of this I felt compelled to go back and check my files to see if any "pet" activity that I had noted in the file correlated with a specific time of year. Sure enough, I found three. All were from September, October and November when mice activity in the home could possibly have been at its highest.  Now, I was also reminded of a case several years ago where I witnessed the family dog (a mild mannered Jack Russell Terrier) jump up from a sound sleep and run to the cased opening between the kitchen and living room, stop and crouch with ears pinned back, baring its teeth with a very slow and guttural growl. It was around 11:30 PM and the house was totally dark. This was not the result of a mouse in the wall and the rest of us saw and heard nothing at all! It lasted about 45 seconds. The dog was normally very friendly.  Bad dream? Maybe...

Here are some interesting (and approximate) animal hearing ranges in Hertz:

            Ferret           16 - 44K                      Raccoon         100 - 40K

            Cow                23 - 35K                     Gerbil              100 - 60K

            Cat                  20 - 64K                     Rat                   200 - 76K

            Human          20 - 23K                     Hedgehog     250 - 45K

           Guinea Pig    54 - 50K                     Rabbit             360 - 42K

            Horse            55 - 33.5K                  Possum          500 - 64K      

            Dog                 67 - 45K                     Mouse            1000 - 91K

INVESTIGATION OF "THE HYANNIS PUBLIC LIBRARY"

The Hyannis Public Library is over 250 year old, dating back to 1750. The oldest portion is named the Ora Adams Hinckley Wing who is celebrated as the first full-time librarian. The Eagleston Wing was added in 1939, and the newest and modern looking  Twombley Wing in 1974.

On September 19, 2009, Paranormal Investigators and EVP Researchers from The Massachusetts Paranormal Institute, descended on the library to answer one question; "Is the Hyannis Public Library haunted?" Lead Investigators Elizabeth Lyons and Dave Sircom headed the two teams which also included EVP Researchers Michael & Christine Balch.

The question was answered in a most definitive way by the end of the investigation as a result of the work of Liz Lyons and Michael Balch.

If you would like to know first hand and actually attend the "REVEAL" of the investigation, come to the:

New England Tales of Twilight
Halloween Presentation  

Call the Hyannis Public Library at (508) 775-2280 for tickets!

And go to http://www.massachusettsparanormalinstitute.com/ for more information.

Remember, if you or someone you know has a Cape Cod ghost story or is suffering as a result of a paranormal disturbance, please contact me directly and discreetly at Dave@massachusettsparanormalinstitute.com or visit the website at http://www.massachusettsparanormalinstitute.com/     or      nespi.davesircom@gmail.com