Our activities provide ravens new nest sites, new foods, and enable them to spread deep into degraded and fragmented sage lands. In the western US, ravens have increased in response to modification of arid landscapes.

The raven has not been asked its opinion on the matter.Īs we grant more species their natural rights, some dilemmas are certain to arise. The demise of grouse has led landowners, wildlife managers, and conservationists to propose raven culls. Aldo Leopold stated this eloquently in his 1948 book 'A Sand County Almanac,' writing “a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.” In my opinion, it is right-in Leopold’s sense-for animals to live a full and free life in their natural habitat exercising their ecological and evolutionary roles. This ethic emphasizes an individual's right to maintain its natural ecological and evolutionary niche. The advanced neurological architecture and cognitive function of these creatures proves their intellect, but I can see no reason for not extending equal rights to all animals. As one who spends a good portion of every year in close company with smart and social animals, such as crows, ravens, and wolves, I am convinced that all birds and mammals deserve the care and consideration we give humans.

Marzluff, Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington and author of In the Company of Crows and Ravens, Gifts of the Crow, Dog Days Raven Nights, and Welcome to Subirdia.Īs a biologist, I believe all living organisms have rights.

Welcome to Subirdia by John M. Marzluff