This morning on our Sunday, hike, Zima, I and a neighborhood Collie
came across the body of a large black bear lying in a clearing. Zima
knows that even sleeping bears can be dangerous (probably from instinct),
so she sidestepped the bear at as far a distance as possible. As we
approached, I observed that the bear had been decapitated, although
there were no signs of blood. The event must have happened only hours
earlier as rigor mortus had not yet set in. I was eventually able to
get Zima to check the dead bear out, but the collie would come nowhere
near.
The hike continued and we came across a raptor lying in the path,
apparently with a broken wing. Zima was happy to sniff at the bird
until it decided to start pecking at Zima's nose, then some retaliation
seemed called for. One thing led to another and eventually a scuffle
ensued. I separated the two, picked up the damaged bird before any
permanent damage could occur and put it in a tree to mend. I'm
sure Zima wondered what I was doing.
It seems our basis instincts are to avoid those creatures who are
bigger and have sharper claws than we do, and to attack those who
are defenseless and injured, especially if we feel in some way wronged
by the smaller of creatures. Zima learned to overcome fear of big
"dead" creatures and to have sympathy for creatures smaller than
she today. It is a lesson we could all benefit from.

P.S. As a secondary benefit Zima now knows what the words "bear" and "bird" mean.