I sped west toward home along Roseau County Road 8, listening to CBC late-night radio’s, “As It Happens” feature provided by NPR. Driving ahead of my headlights, a dim view at best, I saw what I thought was a small animal’s body lying in my lane. I swerved into the vacant eastbound lane to avoid hitting what I thought was a dead skunk, yet in passing, saw it wasn’t a skunk. What was it? I slowed the car, stopped and reversed. Peering into my side mirrors I steered the car backwards using the solid white line on my left and the yellow dashes of the center line, illuminated by my backup lights, on my right. I backed-up beyond the carcass, returning gradually into the westbound lane. Stopping, I drove forward until my headlights shone on a feathered lifeless body. “Maybe a hawk.” I thought aloud, walking toward it, “But this late at night? Hawks wouldn’t be out now.” Nudging it with my boot, I saw its feathered-toes and clenched talons, and a partially-extended, short, powerful-loo...