It is always a powerful thing when I witness predator and prey engagements in nature. In such a primal moment, I have a clash of feelings despite my understanding of ecology and the cycle of life and death. Nature may be violent at times, but it is never cruel. Predators like this Red-tailed Hawk must be precise and quick, or they do not eat. In turn, this refinement of hunting prowess minimizes suffering in its prey – the squirrel – because the hawk's surprise attack with razor sharp talons and bone snapping impact kills quickly.