Ground squirrels produce alarm calls at ultrasonic frequencies that are inaudible to humans, as reported in a study published in Nature. The discussion also references previous research indicating that rodents, including mice, emit ultrasonic vocalizations during various activities, such as mating and social interactions. A notable study highlighted is one where mice were observed producing ultrasonic chirps resembling laughter when tickled, suggesting a connection between these sounds and positive emotional states. The conversation touches on the implications of interpreting animal vocalizations, emphasizing the need for caution to avoid anthropomorphism. While some researchers propose that these vocalizations reflect joy similar to human laughter, others stress the importance of context in understanding animal behavior and vocalizations. Overall, the dialogue underscores the complexity of animal emotions and the challenges in accurately interpreting their sounds.
and frequent handling/playing always made for a better pet. Whether they were laughing... I don't know, but they usually made me laugh.
When I hear a small child shriek, I usually have to ask their parent(s) whether it's a "good" shriek or a "bad" shriek. It seems the interpretation of the same sound is pretty context dependent, and if I can't see the context (i.e., my nephew is shrieking in the background while I'm on the phone with my sister), I really can't tell what the sound means. Why am I sharing this? Because it leaves me wondering that if I can't really tell in a small human what a particular sound means without noting the context, it seems there's quite a big risk of anthropomorphism in interpreting these animal sounds when we aren't particularly good at interpreting what the sound OR the context is. 
