A raven with tattered wing feathers flew by a couple days ago making me wonder if it was one of the ravens that were vigorously flapping their wings side by side as they plowed through the snow for some 60 feet before taking wing and leaving me wondering what I'd just seen and photographed.
Ravens in snow on ice
Unable to explain this behavior I'd never seen or heard of before, I thank everyone who provided me with the following information.
One said "I have read that they will clean their feathers by rolling and diving in the snow to remove parasites as the cold somewhat 'paralyzes' mites making them easier to dislodge." Most of the literature suggested I'd seen 'snow-play' that is most common in northern raven populations where snow is most available. It said that "chilly Canada, Alaska, the Russian Far East, and the snowy plateaus of Montana are ground zero for this feathery winter mania. " The literature also said "ravens are regularly, reliably, and hilariously inventive when it comes to making play out of the snow." When the ravens paused and thrusted their heads deep into the snow, I thought maybe they were drinking. I thought the weight of recent snowfalls might have cracked the lake ice enough for water to seep up; but I haven't seen any detectable wet areas on the lake.
I feel lucky to have seen such intense mysterious behavior go on for many minutes, reminding me of the mysterious behaviors of bears I'd seen that eventually gave me life-changing insights into their minds and lives.
Bear Study group pic 8-21-25
As the bear courses fill up, I look forward to seeing participants have 'life-changing' experiences that give them new views that are reflected on their smiling faces in group pictures that we take at the end of each course. The courses are taught by wild bears that stay out of trouble, live long lives, and include the second oldest black bear on record at 35.
Thank you bears, and thank you all for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center