To Kill a Toucan

I have a crazy story.

So currently, a wonderful group of tropical biology students are visiting from Prescott University (pronounced "priscitt," like biscuit... ?) with their professor. Yesterday, we spent the day cruising along the rainforest trail, pointing out baby sloths, heleconias, passion flowers, and turtle-tail mushrooms. Showing them the trail was particularly rewarding because we were both able to teach each other things- I was able to point out my favorite trees/plants and their indigenous uses, and they were able to share their expansive knowledge of Costa Rican birdlife. After the trail, we scarfed down another fabulous dinner, and then the craziness began.

As the group was leaving to retire to their rooms, a high-pitched, siren noise started to howl from a nearby tree. Startled, we all walked onto the road with our flashlights and tried to see who, or rather what, was in so much pain. At first, I almost thought it was a squealing pig caught in a fence, but the desperate noises where clearly coming from above. One student suggested that it was a porcupine. Apparently they live in trees here. After several more moments of excruciating cries, we located some movement up in the tree. The beady eyes looking back at us belonged to none other than an opposum. But why was it shreaking?

After watching the opposum swing down to a lower branch, someone noticed that there was something odd about the opposum's face. It looked like it had a large, yellow beak. Then it dawned on us:

the opposum was eating a toucan

What?! I can't even begin to imagine how that was possible. Me and all the tropical biology dorks were jumping up in down in excitement. Poor toucan did not go down easily. I mentally added this as yet one more marvel to my experience. I am hoping that future Costa Rican surprises won't be quite as destructive...