>I've just came across a message from an ecology list I subscribe to with
>an inquiry as to whether ravens are an endangered species. This is news
>to me. How would I find out for sure? Then, of course, there is the
>question of whether it is listed as officially endangered or whether
>scientists believe the species to be endangered?
>
>John Henly
>Everett High School
>ferret12 at u.washington.edu

To my knowledge neither of the North American ravens is endangered or
threatened. Like most corvids, they adapt well to humans and therefore are
more likely to increase in some areas. I think the Common Raven has
decreased in the Appalachians, and I remember reading somewhere that it was
because there was a lot more livestock raised in parts of the mountains 100
years ago, favoring ravens! Being effective predators and being subsidized
in some areas by human activities, ravens are more likely to contribute to
a threatened status for populations of *other* birds.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416