Sweden’s wolf numbers slide, illegal hunting blamed
The number of wolves has been reduced from 355 last winter to 305.
Marcus Öhman, the head of wildlife management at the Swedish Environment Protection Agency, says the problem of illegal poaching is bringing down the wolf population.
A wolf was shot dead in Falun in the middle of Sweden last week by two men who fled the scene on a snowmobile.
Öhman says Sweden probably won’t follow Norway’s example of installing secret forest cameras, but will hold discussions with the police and other agencies on the best way of dealing with the problem.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Norwegian blogger posts picture online, gets fined for illegal hunting in Northern Canada, CBC News
Finland: Finland’s wolf population has exploded… but winter is coming, Yle News
Norway: Polar bear shot dead after attacking person on Svalbard, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Poachers suspected behind dwindling wolf numbers in Sweden, Radio Sweden
United States: Trump admin pushes for looser rules on predator hunting in Alaska, Alaska Public Media
