Introductory biology laboratory experiences frequently rely on preserved chordates for anatomical study. Unfortunately, these preserved organisms rarely reflect the appearance of a living creature. Since community colleges are generally prohibited the use of live chordates, this paper describes the autopsy of a "road kill" squirrel to facilitate the learning experience of biology majors. In addition to the improvement in basic anatomy test scores, the students also learned teamwork, microbiology assays, and hazardous material protection.