Why do rabbits scream when they die?

Rabbits scream when they are frightened or are in pain. While some rabbits do not scream when they are dying, most rabbits will scream at least once during their lifetime. A rabbit's scream sounds exactly like the scream of a young child.

Rabbits communicate by moving and positioning their bodies in specific ways. A "dead bunny" position is when a rabbit is sleeping while lying on its back, and a pet rabbit sometimes does this when it wants a tummy rub. Rolling dog-style while playing is a common movement of young rabbits. Once a rabbit is mature, the behavior is much less common.