The Darker Side Of Nature

"Eat or be eaten!"

As Scott and I were walking through a residential section of our town today, we spotted this beautiful hawk by a small playground.  We walked over for a closer look, trying to be quiet, and taking turns trying to get good pictures.  We were surprised at how close we were able to get, until we realized the hawk was standing guard over some hapless dead mammal (a squirrel, I think).  I imagine we had just missed a scene worthy of a nature program on TV.  I enjoyed getting such a good look at the hawk, but it was a reminder of how much of nature involves one critter eating another.