Norwegian wolves year 2001

The timber wolf has recently returned to Scandinavia after decades of absent caused by being hunted to the point of extinction. This has caused conflict situations with farmers in Norway where the farmers have domestic animals out in the wilderness throughout the summer. In the beginning of this year, it was estimated to be around 100 wolves shared between Norway and Sweden. Approximately 25 of these wolves where considered to be in Norwegian packs. The rest are located either in border areas between Norway and Sweden or in Sweden. The wolves have been prosecuted based on illegal hunting and hunting licenses provided on case by case bases. One of the methods of illegal hunting has been the use of poisoned bait.

In order to satisfy trigger-happy local politicians and at the same time obtain a certain wolf friendly policy, the Norwegian government with endorsement from the Norwegian parliament established so called wolf zones in 2000. These zones are areas where wolves potentially are allowed to establish habitats. The problem is that the zones provide very limited areas and the fact that wolf couples will settle down where nature provides the most natural habitats. Two of three Norwegian wolf packs fell outside the defined zones in addition to a wolf couple. The packs falling out of the zones where the Atnadal pack and the Koppang pack in addition to the Imsdal couple.

On the top of Atnadalen valley

Early this year the Norwegian authorities authorised a wolf hunt aiming to wipe out the Atnadal pack and the Imsdal couple located in Østerdalen. Atnadal is the only area in Europewhere bears, lynx, wolverines and wolves co-exist and the area provides perfect habitants for wolves. Several Nature organisations working in Norway brought the hunt to court in Oslo based on violation of international agreements. The outcome of the court decision was a shock and concluded that the hunt was legal in accordance with Norwegian legislation. The engagement of the organisations stopped at this stage and the hunt proceeded. However, many individuals felt that the hunt was very wrong and used their own time and resources to prevent the hunt by presence in the area.

Atnadalen valley

These individuals gathered under one banner called JointAction for wolves. The operation performed by JointAction for wolves was performed without violation of the law and was based on any individual’s rights to be in the Norwegian wilderness. The operation on the ground was considered successful where the government rangers were neutralised by JointAction for wolves. Under hard pressure, the rangers used helicopters to fulfil their task and killed the Imsdal couple and 7 members of the Atnadal pack in a manner that has nothing to do with hunting. One member of the Atnadal pack survived and was adopted by rallycross driver Martin Schanche.

The situation now is critical for the Norwegian wolves where the decisions to issue hunting licenses outside the wolf zones have been delegated to local community level. Several observations have been made outside the known and established habitant areas this summer and each time any indications have shown that a domestic animal has been killed by a wolf, local authorities have issued hunting licenses. Hunting wolves in the summer time is not very efficient because of the lack of tracks but it shows the attitude these local communities have regarding wolves. Additionally, it is discussed and most likely to be approved that hunters hunting other types of game such as moose will be allowed to shoot wolf.

Wolfhunted moose.

It was estimated that approximately 16 wolves where left in Norway after the hunt this winter. Namely the Koppang pack, the Moss/Våler pack, the Gråfjell couple and the last remaining wolf of the Atnadal pack. With all these observations various places in Norway, I do not think anyone has the full overview of which wolf has migrated to where. What happened to the last Atnadal wolf? Is the Koppang pack still intact since the alpha male was shot in 2000? What about last years puppies? Has any wolves migrated from Sweden?

What we do know is that hunting licenses will easily be issued and it will be easier to hunt when the snow falls.