News about the Norwegian carnivores.
Moose suffer in deep snow Near-record amounts of snow this winter have made life more difficult than usual for Norway's large moose and deer population.
Greenland starts quota to save polar bears Greenland's government on Wednesday introduced the ice-capped island's first hunting quota for polar bears, which scientists believe are threatened by the effects of global warming.
Congenital defects in a highly inbred wild wolf population (Canis lupus) In wild populations negative effects from inbreeding are usually difficult to assess. The contemporary Scandinavian wolf population (Canis lupus) was established in 1983. With only three founders this population, with approximately 100 individuals, exhibits lower genetic variability than the neighbouring eastern population. Congenital malformations of the backbone were found in this highly inbred population.
Severe inbreeding depression in a wild wolf (Canis lupus) population [Pdf] In a small, naturally restored, wild population of grey wolves in Scandinavia, founded in 1983, we constructed a pedigree for 24 of the 28 breeding pairs established in the period 1983-2002.
Wolf population recovering Wildlife experts say they have found signs of as many as 26 wolves in the southeastern forests of Hedmark County. Legal and illegal hunting have been threatening to wipe out the wolves in Norway once again.
Bear population under threat International conservation officials are worried about the future of the bear population in Norway. A recent spate of shootings has left the current population at less than half of the target approved by the parliament.
'Red-green' political leaders head for the hills Leaders of the three parties that aim to form Norway's next "red-green" government started moving into the Soria Moria hotel and conference center on Monday. This is where they'll debate thorny issues in the hopes of finding enough common ground to form a new government.
Police investigate wolf rumors Rumors abound concerning the placement of around 20 wolves along the Swedish border, from Elverum to Halden.
Bear shot, got 'too close' Bears are an officially protected species in Norway, but another one was shot early Thursday after it got a little close for comfort in a town up north.
Finnish hunter kills Swedish wolf A Finnish hunting tourist in Medelpad shot dead a wolf which attacked his hunting dog on Friday. The only reason he had come to Sweden was that he was afraid of encountering a wolf on a hunt in Finland.
Another bear shot in Hedmark A sheep rancher shot and killed a bear early Monday, after it wandered into a flock of his animals in an open grazing area.
Killed, froze and shot lynx A man stands accused of violating hunting and animal preservation laws after he allegedly killed one with a knife, froze hit and then shot the corpse in a forest during hunting season.
Only one wolf pair left in Norway Last winter's state-authorized wolf hunt has left Norway with just one pair deemed capable of breeding a new litter of wolves this spring.
Wandering wolf set new record A female wolf marked by researchers in southern Norway two years ago was shot by a reindeer herder in northern Finland earlier this month.
Little public support for wolf hunt Norway's controversial wolf hunt, now officially over, has no strong base of support within the general population. A clear majority in five key counties oppose it, while 54 percent are against the hunt on a national basis.
Center Party wants wolves out Norway's agrarian Center Party (Sp) wants a ban on reproducing wolves and an end to the animal within the country's borders.
No reliable record for missing sheep Norwegian farmers received predator compensation for 30,500 lost sheep in 2004 - but only 2,760 sheep have been proven killed by wild animals, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) reports.
Fifth wolf shot in Hedmark A male wolf was shot in Løten in Hedmark County on Monday afternoon, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) reports. This means the licensed limit has been reached and the hunt is over.
Norway's wolf claim unsupported Scandinavian wolf researchers say that Norwegian authorities have no scientific basis for their claim that the ongoing cull of five wolves will not threaten Norway's wolf population.
Stortinget blasts Swedish minister An official protest by Sweden's Environmental Minister against Norway's culling of wolves has sparked a rallying of assorted politicians in Norway's parliament, Stortinget, in defense of the policy.
Environmentalists protest lynx killing With recent international outcry about culling Norway's tiny wolf population still ringing, more controversy is certain to erupt after hunters began thinning the country's dwindling lynx population.
Third wolf shot on Saturday Hunters in eastern Norway shot a third wolf over the weekend, just a day after a colleague mistakenly shot an important female wolf in the same area.
Hunters fell wrong wolf Controversy around the latest permissions to fell wolves is unlikely to subside after hunters mistakenly shot one of Norway's key she-wolves on Friday morning.
Record number of wolf pups born Researchers think that 13 packs of wolves in Norway and Sweden produced pups last year.
Wolf hunter receives death threat A hunter who's among those authorized to go after five of Norway's wolves has received a death threat in the mail.
One wolf down, four more to go Hunters with a license to kill five of Norway's wolves managed to shoot the first one over the weekend.
Actions mount against wolf hunt Pressure at home and abroad mounts against Norway's decision to shoot five of its existing wolf population. Neighbors, environmental groups and the European Union are enraged.
Hunters target another wolf Norway's top environmental official insists that wolves will continue to be protected in the country, but now another one may be hunted down.
Wolves evade hunters, so far Norway's fledgling wolf population managed to evade a large team of hunters who launched a four-week pursuit over the weekend.
Norway can claim 3,000 polar bears Researchers have been roaming the Norwegian Arctic in recent months to count how many polar bears are really out there.
Police probe suspected illegal wolf hunt Police in Akershus, eastern Norway, are investigating what appears to be an organized, illegal wolf hunt in the forest near Nes.
Wolves send text messages It sounds odd at first, but researchers are using mobile phone technology to track a young wolf's 1,000 kilometer (621 mile) trek from Hedmark to Nordland.
Wolves 'disappearing' every year Wildlife experts claim that as many as 25 wolves are disappearing every year and the fledgling wolf population in Norway has stagnated. They suspect illegal hunting is to blame.
Tour guide fined for shooting polar bear Officials on Svalbard have fined a French tour guide for failing to scare off a curious polar bear, and painfully injuring the bear instead by shooting him in the foot. Officials later had to kill the animal, part of a protected species.
New wolf pack roams eastern Norway A group of men out hunting moose in the eastern Norwegian valley called Oesterdalen had a close encounter with a pack of wolves last Saturday. They snapped digital photos and experts now say the wolves constitute a new family.
Dispute rages over reindeer attacks In one of those "only
in Norway" debates, officials in the far north are arguing over how many
reindeer have been attacked and killed by eagles. At stake are large compensation
sums paid out to those owning the reindeer herds.
Runaway wolf destroyed The
female wolf Vilde, which escaped from the Langedrag Nature Park Wednesday,
was captured and put to death by park officials and veterinarians Thursday.
Vilde had three cubs at the park.
Wolf on the run For the second time in a week, a wolf has escaped from the Langedrag Nature Park at Nesbyen in Buskerud County. Authorities were mounting efforts Thursday to recapture her.
Wolf spotted in Kristiansand A wolf has been spotted in the Kristiansand area in southern Norway. The sighting is Kristiansand's first "in modern times", according to newspaper Faedrelandsvennen.
Researcher blasts wolf hunts A wildlife expert claims Norway's controversial wolf hunts have done more harm than good, in terms of saving domestic herds from the jaws of predators.
County fears illegal wolf hunting County officials in Akershus suspect some anti-wolf activists may have taken matters into their own hands. Three wolves outfitted with radio transmitters have disappeared.
Sheep rancher shoots wolf A sheep rancher took matters into his own hands on Thursday and shot a wolf that he claims attacked one of his lambs. A Greenpeace official is questioning whether the incident was justified.
Ranchers howl over rise in wolf attacks Wolves have killed four times as many freely grazing sheep in Norway as they did last year at this time. Ranchers are up in arms, while state officials are urging them to fence in their flocks.
Norway Approves New Wolf Hunt Although Only 10-15 Wolves Remain in Entire Country!
Officials ban hunt for wolf pups State environmental officials have banned a planned hunt for wolf pups in Eidsberg township, southeast Norway. The hunt was first proposed last September.
Risk of attacks by wolves in Europe is low report concludes Unprovoked attacks on people by non-rabid wolves have occurred but are very rare, concludes a new report into the incidence of wolf attacks on people in Eurasia and North America.
The fear of wolfs. An review of wolf attachs on humans
No wolf hunt in Gudbrandsdalen Minister of the Environment Børge Brende has refused to give permission to kill a wolf that has been bothering farmers, sheep and other residents in Sel county, Gudbrandsdalen.
Authorities halt wolf hunt Wolves won a reprieve on Tuesday after a new, controversial wolf hunt was ultimately halted by the state Directorate for Nature Management. The decision reverses an earlier county go-ahead.
Wolf attacks sheep at the barn door Sheep ranchers were shaken over the weekend when a wolf ventured right into the barnyard of a farm in north Gudbrandsdalen. The wolf killed three sheep and badly bit four others before being scared off by a man from a neighboring property.
What happened whit the wolf after the Joint action for wolfs signaturcampain ?
Wolf may get new lease on life Norway's minister of the environment is asking conservation officials to spare the life of a female wolf that's been wandering around in the mountains near Nesbyen.
New wolf hunt looms this winter Wildlife authorities confirm that plans are being laid for another wolf hunt in Østerdalen, eastern Norway. But this time, officials say hunters' applications will be scrutinized and that they'll work with Swedish authorities.
Minister wants seal hunt to lure tourists Norway's new Fisheries Minister wants to hunt more seals and market the hunt to tourists. Svein Ludvigsen thinks the country's controversial practice of clubbing baby seals over the head could be turned into an "exclusive" coastal experience for foreigners
Norway awaits wolf film reaction Reprisals and death threats were expected after a film of last winter's controversial wolf hunt was shown on Norwegian television on Wednesday. An international version will be shown at Cannes next week.
Hunt ends in victory for wolves It appeared the wolf hunt in Rendalen, east Norway, would end on Monday with a zero result for the hunters. Licence to kill four wolves was granted two weeks ago, but the animals have remained elusive.
Ranchers join forces against wolverine The carcasses of 15 lambs have been found in the mountains of Rondane, and their owners blame wolverines in the area. The ranchers are seeking permission to hunt them down.
Wolf population growing in Norway Researchers say some 60 wolf pups have been born in Norway and Sweden so far this summer. Twelve wolf families or packs are now registered in the area, with many of them roaming the border.
New wolf hunt underway The township of Rendalen in Hedmark, eastern Norway, has launched another wolf hunt after ranchers found the cadavers of 28 sheep over the weekend. Authorities say at least 20 were attacked by wolves.
Wolves under fire after sheep massacre Wolves are suspected of killing some 30 sheep near Rendalen, eastern Norway, over the weekend. Another 80 sheep are missing and ranchers are calling for help from the authorities.
Wolf hunt winds down The wolf hunt in several southern Norwegian townships is coming to an end - without any predator casualties so far. The permission for most of the hunting granted has already expired.
New wolf hunt underway in popular valley Hunters say they're closing in on a wolf suspected of killing 35 lambs in Gudbrandsdalen, the valley that's home to the former sports venues of the 1994 Olympics. The wolf was spotted Monday in Skåbu.
Wolves multiplying rapidly State wildlife authorities predict as many as 15 new litters of wolves will be born in southern Norway and Sweden this year. Reproduction is expected in most of the area's registered wolf packs.
Finnmark authorizes new wolf hunt Wildlife officials in Finnmark in northern Norway say they can live with bears, wolverines and lynx but not with wolves. Few remain in the area, but any sign of breeding will set off a hunt.
Wolf activists mount boycott Activists keen on protecting Norway's wolves hope to keep tourists from visiting areas in the eastern part of the country that authorized organized wolf hunts. They also hope to prevent new hunts.