European elk calves struggling in warmer spring months
Warmer and drier spring months in Sweden are making life a struggle for the country’s population of European elk calves, with fewer surviving into adulthood and those that do make it are generally smaller than they should be, Swedish Radio reports.
That’s according to a study by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå who have looked at the sensitive months of May and June when newborn elk calves are dependent on suckling.
Researcher Fredrik Widemo says years with many hot days in May and too little rain in June have resulted in calves weighing less than normal with the result that more of them are dying, particularly in the regions of Svealand and Götaland.
For more on how warmer weather is interfering with mother elks feeding their young, listen to Radio Sweden’s report.
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