I took my dogs for a walk in one of our usual spots today. As I got out of the truck, I heard a strange sound. I looked up and saw a RT hawk, but the sound wasn't being made by the bird. It was being made by the rabbit in it's talons. As we walked along the trail, one of my dogs found the rabbit laying in the snow. The hawk had dropped it's prey. I got my dog away from the rabbit, which was still alive, but unable to do get up and get away. My hope was that if we got out of there, the hawk would come back for it's meal.
On our way back to the truck, we found the rabbit had scooted about 3 feet down the hill, but was still there, and still alive. I took the dogs home, grabbed my camera, and went back to try to get some photos of the hawk coming back for the rabbit. The rabbit had managed to move a few more feet down the hill, but was still there, and still alive.
I set up my camera and hid under a tree in my camo, and waited. After about a half hour, the hawk came back. I could hear it, and see it flying over head, but it never came close to the rabbit. Eventually if flew off, out of site, and out of ear shot.
I had thought about moving the injured, rabbit to the trail, where it would be much easier to see for the hawk, and much better for getting a photo if the hawk did come back. My other options were to kill the rabbit to keep it from suffering, take it to an animal rehabilitater, or to do nothing.
I opted to do nothing, and let nature take it's course. The rabbit was still alive when I left, but I'm sure it won't make it through the night. It will either fall victim to a predator, or the cold, but that is the reality of nature.
Doing nothing was the right answer for me, but it might not be the right answer for everyone.
What would you have done?