Living in Arkansas, I see plenty of nature near home. Even so, this sight made me slam on the brakes. I was driving near my house when I spotted a hawk in an open field. The hawk was eating an opossum, gripping it with its talons. I pulled over, fascinated, to watch.
A Hawk Eating Opossum Beside the Road
The hawk tore into its prey right there on the ground. It held the opossum down with sharp talons. With its curved beak, it ripped at fur and flesh. Meanwhile, tufts of gray fur drifted on the breeze. Still, the hawk kept feeding the whole time I watched.
The prey was large and furry, a substantial meal for any hawk. Its yellow legs stayed planted on the carcass while it fed. The power of the bird struck me as I watched.
Going Back for the Camera
I did not have my camera with me. So I raced back to the house and grabbed it. Thankfully, the hawk was still feeding when I returned. Next, I approached slowly, taking care not to startle the bird. Through the lens, the details sharpened. The low sun bathed the scene in golden light. That light brought out the russet tones in the hawk’s feathers. Those frames are still some of the most graphic I have taken.
Why This Hawk’s Feast Stayed With Me
Nature can be cruel up close. Even so, I felt privileged to document this moment. The hawk got a feast, and I got a front-row seat. A hawk has to eat, and on that day it ate well. All of it happened just down the road from my house. I have photographed another hawk working a carcass since then. See Red-tailed Hawk Feeding on a Carcass in Oklahoma for that encounter. Scenes like this one are why I keep a camera close at hand.