Generally speaking, a howling wilderness does not howl: it is the imagination of the traveler that does the howling.

Frightening places are mostly quiet. The menace people report from wild country, or from any unfamiliar situation, is largely supplied by whoever is passing through it, while the ground itself carries on doing what it always does. Recognising that makes nothing safe; it separates what is actually there from what you brought with you.

When the next situation looks hostile, try listing what you can verify and what you are supplying. New job, new city, difficult room: most of the howling is yours. Real risks are usually fewer and far more specific than the atmosphere suggests.