The Raven and the Wolf: A Study in Symbiosis

Author:
Deb Hirt
Updated date:
Jul 26, 2022

Deb is a bird enthusiast who photographs birds almost daily near her home in Oklahoma.

Symbiotic Relationships

In a previous article, I used the moniker “Wolf Bird” to refer to the raven. What I meant specifically, was that ravens tend to go hand-in-hand with wolves that hunt rough terrain for their own needs in way of food. Ravens will also be in the area of licensed hunters, as well as poachers, which can make the poachers very easy to locate since they are generally about the area during the off-season for hunting.

Raven cawing
naturemappingfoundation.org

Observations

On their own, ravens are fearful of the carcasses of animals that they wish to eat. Is it a real fear, or the suggestion of uselessness to the raven? Ravens also have a hard time getting at meat that hasn’t already been opened up for them to feed from. About the best that they are able to do, is forage on the eyes, or perhaps an exposed tongue in an open mouth. They will yell in the presence of an unopened carcass, which will draw wolves, and they will naturally, investigate and do what the raven wants to get into it. It benefits both of them.

Are these animals symbiotic? In a sense, they appear to be. Ravens have been observed around wolf families at rest, and have even gently pulled the tails of pups in order to get a reaction, just as they do with the adults. They will do the same with eagles, and an eagle can surely do them grievous bodily injury.

Common Raven

Common Raven Crowing - YouTube
A Common Raven calls from atop a snag at Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Dependence

They don’t fear wolves, yet they do a fresh carcass out in the woods with nothing around? Ravens depend on the wolves to kill for them and open the carcass, but also to overcome their fear. This strongly suggests an ancient evolutionary history, and ravens have been of great interest for centuries. In a sense, they are forming social attachments, as both form bonds with one another. When wolves stop to rest, ravens have been observed roosting in trees, where they can watch and harass the wolves at close range. When this happens, wolves will resume traveling, which is most likely the intent of the raven to harass in the first place.

Attractions

Ravens are also attracted to wolves howling, as well as the sounds of gunshots. These are sounds to heed, which could well mean the presence of prey. When wolves get ready to hunt, they howl. Conversely, wolves also respond to certain raven vocalizations or behaviors that indicate the presence of prey.

Now You Know!

Ravens will also feed with bears, polar bears, and coyotes. They are much more alert and suspicious than the animals, for I have never been able to sneak up on a raven, but have not had a problem with anything else. The birds also make good eyes and ears for those that are hunting, and they certainly earn what they get to eat. Not only that, during their excursions, they miss nothing as opportunists, especially at a campsite. They have been known to return later and take bread or meat that might have interested them at that initial fly-by.

So, a few questions have been raised, as well as answered. Let’s see if we can do more research, and come up with some new material for a future article.

Comments

undying on April 18, 2018:

how about the wolf

Dogie dejauvu on April 12, 2018:

Why is there a relation ship?

gamer boy 10 on April 10, 2018:

Why is there a relation ship

gamer boy 10 on March 29, 2018:

You told nothing about the wolf.only the raven.I want more about the wolf!!!!!!!!

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on February 26, 2018:

It is a symbiotic one where the raven hunts for caracasses for the wolf. Corvids are unable to tear open a body, only remove the eyes, so the wolf is there to open the body up, eat its fill, and the birds get more nourishment.

k on February 26, 2018:

what is the relesionship

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on January 25, 2018:

Check under dependence heading, anonumus. They work together to achieve a goal. Basically, the raven can find food from on high and the wolf will open up the carcass. They are pretty amazing as a team, eh?

anonumus on January 25, 2018:

Awesome article! But my question wasn't awensered in the text "what is the symbiotic relationship between wolf and raven"

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on July 17, 2016:

Hey, LiliMarlene! They are remarkable birds, as all birds really are. Scientists never gave them credit a decade ago when they were given proof that birds could think and reason. Now they are FINALLY getting the picture. Thanks for reading and commenting. The world of science needs astute people like you to prove that citizen science is so important to help them fill in the complete picture.

Elisabeth Meier on July 17, 2016:

Thanks for sharing your experiences with ravens! When I watch them they mostly eat nuts or other fruits or dry cat food. I've even seen them flying around with a walnut in their beak. When then landing they mostly began to create or build a place where to hide the found treasure. Really funny to watch, especially when they dig a hole, put the nut in and then close the hole with leaves and other material. Cool and smart animals.

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on July 09, 2016:

Ravens tend to favor the north, as well as the Pacific coast. Wonder why you don't see any where you are, Norma?

Norma Lawrence from California on July 09, 2016:

Great article. I learned a lot about ravens from it. We do not have ravens but do have crows. Thanks

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on April 03, 2016:

You are most welcome, Robert Sacchi. Animals really are a stronger species than ours, for you see, they at least have natural instincts, which bear upon a true conscience. They know that if others cannot survive, then neither will they. We should take such sage advice.

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on April 03, 2016:

Animals in general really do have a symbiotic relationship to one another. As The Keeper of those with fur and wings, I am privy to so much, yet have such a hard time awakening the awareness in this uncaring species of ours.

Robert Sacchi on April 03, 2016:

An interesting article about this clever bird behavior. Thank you.

Missy Smith from Florida on April 03, 2016:

Extremely interesting hub to read, Deb. I love the fact that a raven is a wolf's sidekick. That is amazing, and I did not know that.

I have always loved ravens, and felt a kindred spirit with both a raven and a wolf. I don't know if it is my Cherokee heritage that has made me look at these animals as powerful allies, but that's the way I see both. It was awesome to know they are allies to each other. I'm still in awe about that information.

These two are a smart and cunning partnership. Now that I have read how they work together for food and such, it just makes complete sense! :)

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on June 26, 2015:

Buildreps, there are MANY interspecies relationships. Fum and Gebra was a great example of a Barn Owl and a cat. There are so many others, as well. Animals truly are sentient beings, even though our government tries to refute it by saying that it is al right to experiment on animals.

Buildreps from Europe on June 26, 2015:

Great Hub. Interesting observation. I'm only wondering what's in it for the wolves? Symbiosis suggests that both sides have some sort of benefit. Recently I observed a hare playing with a crow. The crow was sitting on a pole with the hare sitting in front of it. The crow started to fly slowly and low so that the hare could run after it and jump almost at the height of the crow. They were playing with eachother. I never saw this kind of play between such different animals before. It was fascinating! Was this a kind of symbiosis as well? Just for the fun?

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on June 03, 2014:

How do I do what, Greg? I don't understand what you mean.

Greg on June 03, 2014:

How do you site this resources properly??

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on October 28, 2012:

Yes, Kris, they are. It has to do with body weight vs. brain mass, as I recall. I have a few more things that I did on ravens, and they were very common where I lived in Maine. They used to protect the house while I was gone. A neighbor told me that there were so many ravens in the yard while I was gone, nobody would ever DARE break in!

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on October 28, 2012:

Well, Suhail, that is good to know. I think I can come up with a tidbit or two on that topic.

KrisL from S. Florida on October 27, 2012:

I did know about the two ravens, but I forgot their names -- though I had a vague notion (just checked out) that their names mean "thought" and "mind" in English. . . .

A decade or so ago I read a great article in Smithsonian (I think) about a scientist who studied ravens' intelligence: they are apparently a good deal smarter than crows, which is saying something.

Thanks for following!

Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on October 27, 2012:

Great hub. Never knew about this relationship, but it does make sense. I love wolves and any study in comparison is good for me :-)

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on October 27, 2012:

Actually, Odin had two ravens that he kept on his shoulders, Hugin and Munin...but did you know that? Are you familiar with the legend? Thanks for the votes!

KrisL from S. Florida on October 26, 2012:

Great, your "ravens and crows" hub led me here, which was even more interesting.

The picture I'm forming of a raven harassing or playfully annoying a wolf is just amazing!

I wonder whether the raven-wolf association led both to be associated with the Norse God Odin (of course both were also battlefield scavengers, so it might have been that alone).

Voted "awesome."

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on September 02, 2012:

Hey, suziecat. Ravens and crows are both remarkable. They are both corvids and can solve a lot of problems and use tools.

suziecat7 from Asheville, NC on September 02, 2012:

Really interesting Hub. I've always loved crows but have only seen a few ravens. Learned much here - voted up!

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on August 31, 2012:

Thanks, thelyricwriter. These two animals have a great relationship, and others also do the same. I'm glad that you enjoyed this piece.

Richard Ricky Hale from West Virginia on August 30, 2012:

Voted up, useful, and interesting. Deb, this was a great article, fun to read, and very interesting. I must say that I would have never compared the raven and wolf. Then come to find out, they are very well related. The gun shots, wolf calls, it all makes sense to me now. I never would have thought about that. I never knew they was scared of a carcass,, but their beak tells that story. So interesting Deb. Really enjoyed this article. Best wishes. Would love to read more articles like this, comparing odd animals, well odd relationships that is. Truly fascinating:)

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on August 29, 2012:

Glad that you enjoyed it, Highland Terrier. There have been many more studies done, and I will get into more at a later date.

Highland Terrier from Dublin, Ireland on August 29, 2012:

I absolutely became fascinated by this hub and the info it gave. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought Ravens to be like this. So I went and found out that everything you say in this hub is correct.

Iwould never have known if not for you.

Thank you very much.

Voted up, awesome, useful and everything else

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on August 28, 2012:

Yes, Connie, large carcasses cause them consternation. For starters, they can't get into a solid carcass without help.

Deb Hirt (author) from Stillwater, OK on August 28, 2012:

Her, Mhatter! Crows can be characters, too. They are in the same family as ravens.

Connie Smith from Southern Tier New York State on August 28, 2012:

I did not know about the relationship between ravens and wolves. There are ravens here, but I have never seen one that wasn't flying overhead, except one time when one was working at a road-kill squirrel. I hear their wooden 'wonk, wonk' as they fly above the trees. Are they fearful of just the larger animals I wonder? Very interesting and informative. Voted Up, Interesting and Awesome.

Martin Kloess from San Francisco on August 27, 2012:

We have crows. And have they changed since I was a kid. they work in numbers, They seem to sense fear. If they split up... watch out!