Can you get a raven as a pet?

Ravens are highly intelligent and fascinating birds that some people consider keeping as pets. However, ravens are not easily domesticated like parrots or other more common pet birds. There are some important factors to consider before deciding if a raven would make a good pet.

Are Ravens Legal to Own?

In the United States, it is legal to keep ravens as pets under federal law. However, some states and municipalities have restrictions or bans on owning a raven. It is important to check your local and state laws before obtaining a raven.

Some key things to know about raven legality:

• Ravens are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This requires a special permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to own or sell a raven across state lines.
• Around 15 states outright ban or require a permit to own ravens. These include Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.
• Even if legal in your state, many cities and towns ban corvids (ravens, crows, etc). Check municipal codes before getting a raven.
• Native ravens cannot be caught from the wild. Captive bred ravens from authorized breeders are required.

Bottom line – research regulations thoroughly before pursuing a raven. Failing to follow the law could lead to steep fines and losing your bird.

Are Ravens Easy to Care for as Pets?

Caring for a pet raven is complex and requires a strong commitment. Here are some of the key care challenges:

• Social Needs – Ravens are highly social and intelligent. They require extensive interaction and bonding time daily with their owner to thrive. They are not suited to be left alone for long periods.
• Enclosure Size – Ravens need a very large aviary or enclosure, preferably an entire room. The minimum recommended size is 10′ x 10′ x 10′. Small cages cause stress and behavior issues.
• Diet – Ravens are omnivores and need a varied diet. This includes quality bird pellet mixes, fruits/veggies, proteins like eggs, insects, or meat, and enrichment foods.
• Vet Care – Exotic pet veterinarians with bird expertise are essential. Ravens have specialized health needs compared to dogs/cats.
• Permits – Frequent travel across state lines requires USFWS permits. Even relocating within a state may need state wildlife permits.

Ravens are more demanding to own than typical pets. They require bird expertise and most owners recommend having prior large parrot experience before a raven.

Raven Personality and Temperament

Ravens are one of the most intelligent bird species. They are very playful, social, and affectionate with their owners when properly trained and socialized. However, they have some key personality traits to consider:

• Highly intelligent – can learn words/sounds, unlock cages, solve puzzles
• Playful tricksters – known to hide or steal shiny objects
• Destructive when bored – will chew, shred, and damage items
• Very vocal – make loud croaks, clicks, and mimic sounds
• Prone to bonding to one person – may dislike strangers/visitors
• Can be aggressive in some cases – their large beaks can nip and pinch

The raven’s intelligence gives them great pet potential for the right owner. But it also makes them more demanding and prone to mischief compared to other pet birds. They require extensive training and enrichment.

Lifespan of Pet Ravens

In captivity, ravens typically live 20-40 years when properly cared for. Some captive ravens have exceeded 40 years. By comparison, ravens in the wild average 10-15 years.

Here are some factors that influence a pet raven’s lifespan:

• Quality of diet – poor nutrition reduces lifespan
• Veterinary care – access to avian veterinary care improves lifespan
• Disease – pets may acquire contagious diseases from wild birds or other pets
• Stress – inadequate environment/social bonding contributes to early mortality
• Trauma – ravens are prone to trauma from flying accidents in outdoor aviaries

With a long-lived bird like a raven, owners must be prepared to provide lifelong care. Re-homing ravens is difficult due to their specialized needs, so having an emergency plan is important.

Finding a Pet Raven

Locating a raven to own as a pet can be challenging compared to more common pet birds. Here are some tips for finding ravens:

• Contact reputable raven breeders – Breeders specializing in captive bred corvids can be located online or in bird breeder directories.
• Check with zoos/avian centers – Sometimes hand-reared baby ravens in need of placement are available.
• Join online raven owner groups – Connect with experienced raven owners and rescues.
• Consider adoption – Check corvid-specific bird rescues for adoptable ravens.
• Avoid wild ravens – Capturing wild ravens is illegal and unethical.

Be prepared to spend significant time networking and on waiting lists to obtain a pet quality hand-raised baby raven from an authorized source. Prices often range from $2,000 – $5,000 USD depending on rarity and breeding lines.

Purchasing a Captive Bred Pet Raven

Here is a checklist for selecting and purchasing a healthy captive bred pet raven:

• Choose an experienced, USDA-licensed raven breeder with a veterinary reference.
• Request proof the bird was legally captive bred, not wild caught.
• Ask about parent birds’ health histories and genetic issues.
• Select lively, alert babies – watch for signs of trauma, overgrown beak/nails.
• Hand-raised babies under 10 weeks old are best for taming.
• Get copies of veterinary records, immunizations, examinations.
• Have your own avian vet perform an exam within 48 hours for health certification.
• Ask about breeder return/rehoming policies just in case.

Taking time to find an ethical, responsible breeder and healthy bird improves the chances of having a good pet raven. Be very cautious purchasing from unknown online sellers or at bird auctions.

Costs of Owning a Pet Raven

Ravens are expensive pets, with high upfront and recurring costs. Here are average cost estimates:

The high ongoing time and financial commitments are an important factor in deciding if a raven is suited as a pet. Exotic pet insurance can offset some veterinary costs.

Challenges of Keeping Ravens as Pets

Here are some key challenges raven owners face that need serious consideration:

• Demanding Care – Ravens have extremely complex care needs requiring substantial time commitment daily.
• Housing Size – Providing adequate indoor and outdoor enclosure space is difficult for most owners.
• Noise Level – Frequent loud vocalizations may not be tolerated by neighbors in urban areas.
• Special Diet – Ravens need specialized diets that are challenging and expensive to provide.
• Veterinary Care – Access to qualified avian vets may be limited in some regions.
• Destructiveness – Ravens often damage household items, furniture with unrelenting chewing and shredding.
• Finding Boarding – Very few boarding facilities have ability or permits to host ravens.

The reality of raven ownership often proves very difficult compared to expectations. Rehoming pet ravens is extremely hard. Making a lifetime commitment is critical before deciding to get a pet raven.

Benefits and Rewards of Pet Ravens

Despite the challenges of owning a raven, some people find sharing their life with a raven uniquely rewarding:

• Ravens form close bonds and recognize their owners.
• They are playful, mischievous and endlessly curious.
• Their intelligence allows them to learn many commands and tricks.
• Ravens enjoy playing games and solving puzzles.
• They make a wide range of vocalizations and can mimic speech.
• Some ravens enjoy snuggling and being petted by their owners.
• Ravens form lifelong relationships spanning decades with proper care.

For avian experts who can meet their demanding needs, ravens make interesting lifelong companions. But more casual pet owners will likely find ravens require more expertise and commitment than anticipated.

Tips for Raising a Pet Raven

Here are some top tips from experienced raven owners if you decide to get a pet raven:

• Hand-raise babies from 4-6 weeks old for best bonding and tameness.
• Slowly introduce new foods; consult an avian vet on balanced diet.
• Expect mess and damage – use natural wood perches/toys to minimize.
• Provide minimum 4-5 hours supervised time out of enclosure daily.
• Have emergency plan if you can no longer care for bird.
• Start training early – they are extremely smart and love learning.
• Ensure aviary allows spreading wings fully and unrestricted flight.
• Ask breeders about bird’s history – important for socializing.
• Allow access to bathing water – ravens love playing in water.
• Spend time interacting/playing with raven to build strong bond.

With time, effort, and proper care, a hand-raised raven can develop into a fun, affectionate lifelong companion for the right owner.

Fun Facts About Pet Ravens

• Ravens can learn to talk better than many parrots, with a vocabulary of over 100 words. They mimic sounds like knocking on wood, animal noises, etc.
• Their high intelligence allows them to solve puzzles, play games, and learn tricks like flipping, bowing and rolling over.
• Ravens love playing with toys and objects. Some even hide shiny items like keys, coins, and jewelry around the house.
• In the wild ravens use tools, fashion toys, and play games like tag. Their intelligence rivals great apes.
• While black is most common, ravens can also have white feather markings. Albino and leucistic all-white ravens also rarely occur.
• Ravens can imitate human speech, but lack vocal anatomy to pronounce many sounds clearly. Their speech sounds gravelly.
• Not all ravens can talk. Some lack the interest or ability. But others seem gifted with speech and excel at mimicking.
• Studies show ravens can recognize individual human faces. They form strong bonds with their owners.
• Ravens have been observed sliding down snowy rooftops for fun, making them the only bird known to play on snow.

Conclusion

In summary, ravens are fascinating birds but very challenging pets suited only for experienced bird owners. They require specialized care, training, permits, and housing that prove too demanding for many owners. But for raven experts, they offer unmatched intelligence and lasting bonds spanning decades. Anyone considering a raven should think carefully about if they can truly meet all their complex needs for the bird’s lifetime before deciding to get one as a pet.