What behavior might a frightened cottontail rabbit emit?

• A. Freeze and remain still
• B. Emit a loud, piercing scream
• C. Lie still with eyes closed
• D. Run away silently

Answer: (B)

When a cottontail rabbit is frightened, vocal alarms are part of its rapid alarm system. A loud, piercing scream is a documented distress call these rabbits can emit when grabbed or cornered, designed to startle the threat and alert nearby rabbits. This makes the scream the best choice because it reflects an active, audible warning signal rather than a purely passive reaction.

Rabbits do show other responses, but they don’t fit as well. Briefly freezing or remaining completely still can happen as a quick, initial reaction, but it isn’t as distinctive a behavior as emitting a scream. Lying still with eyes closed isn’t typical for a rabbit under active threat, and running away silently ignores the common tendency to vocalize or create audible cues during a hurried escape.