It might surprise you to learn that wolves and ravens, a predator and a scavenger, often form a remarkable alliance in the wild. For centuries, people across the Northern Hemisphere have noticed these two creatures together, even nicknaming ravens “wolf-birds” because of their close association with wolf packs. This relationship isn’t just folklore; scientists have documented it from the forests of North America to the tundra of Eurasia. When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone after a 70-year absence, ravens immediately returned to follow them, showing how deeply ingrained this bond is in both species. What is it about wolves and ravens that draws them together, and how do both species benefit?

Wherever grey wolves (Canis lupus) roam, chances are you’ll find common ravens (Corvus corax) not far behind. Biologists have observed this partnership in various ecosystems for decades. In Isle Royale National Park, an isolated island ecosystem in Lake Superior, a long-term study found that ravens showed up at 99.7% of wolf kill sites during winter. In Yellowstone, observers have reported raven flocks gathering even before a hunt is over, essentially shadowing the wolf pack as an expected dinner guest.

One Yellowstone carcass was mobbed by as many as 135 ravens at once. These birds dive right in, tearing and pecking at the remains alongside the wolves. Ravens will eat their fill and even cache (store) extra meat for later, sometimes carrying off chunks of flesh while the wolves are still present.

In some cases, observers believe ravens may collectively consume more of a carcass than the wolves themselves. This is not a localized phenomenon; reports from places as far apart as Michigan, Canada, and Sweden have all described ravens routinely trailing wolf packs to feast on leftovers. It appears that this unlikely friendship has been woven into their ecology for thousands of years.

From the raven’s perspective, the benefits of following wolves are clear and rewarding. Ravens are opportunistic scavengers that depend heavily on carrion, and a wolf pack provides a steady source of it. When wolves bring down large prey such as elk or deer, ravens quickly gather to share the feast.

In Yellowstone, the return of wolves after their reintroduction created a consistent supply of carcasses throughout the year, feeding not only ravens but also eagles, bears, magpies, and other scavengers that had struggled when wolves were gone.

Ravens, known for their intelligence, often seem to anticipate hunts. They follow the wolves and arrive within moments of a kill, sometimes even before the wolves have finished. A single raven can eat or stash several pounds of meat in a day, and a large flock can strip a carcass quickly.

On Isle Royale, researchers found that a group of ravens could take about 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of meat from a kill each day, which was more than a pair of wolves might eat themselves. This behavior helped explain why wolves often live and hunt in packs, since larger groups can eat faster and leave less for scavengers.

One study showed that packs of four or more wolves gain more food per wolf than smaller packs because they can finish a kill before ravens take too much. In this way, ravens may even influence wolf cooperation.

For ravens, the reward is obvious: a steady banquet with little effort. Scientists describe this as a “kleptoparasitic” relationship, meaning one species benefits from another’s effort. Yet calling ravens mere thieves does not tell the whole story. As a Native American saying goes, “The wolf acts as the raven’s tooth, and the raven as the wolf’s eye.” Wolves do the hunting, and ravens help them find the next meal.