Coopers Hawk with prey

I was alerted to a predator in the Garden by the chorus of bird and squirrel alarm calls. When I located the marauder, I wasn’t surprised to find a Cooper’s Hawk with prey. What did surprise me was what the hawk had caught –  a full grown Dusky-footed Woodrat. Woodrats are nocturnal, so they normally would not be on the hawk’s menu. Also, a rat of this size would be considered very large prey for a Cooper’s Hawk. As I was watching, it even tried to fly away with the rat, but was unable to lift it. I decided to leave the drama at that point so the bird could be alone with its prize.