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’s actual wolf population is believed to have been cut in half,
because of natural migration into Sweden and controversial wolf hunts. The
last counts indicate 11 to 16 in Norway and 60 to 69 in Sweden, with
another 22 roaming over both sides of the border. “We’re a bit unsure
exactly how many wolves are out there right now,” said wildlife official
Erling Maartmann for the county of Hedmark in eastern Norway.
Those remaining, however, have attacked 91 sheep in Hedmark, 77 in
Oppland, 50 in Oestfold, two in Akershus and 15 in the East and West
Agder. All told that’s less than 1 percent of the sheep that disappear
every year, but the documented wolf attacks have shaken ranchers in
affected areas.
“Here in Oppland, we hardly had any wolves earlier, so the attacks are
interpreted as a lot,” wildlife management official Egil Soglo told
newspaper Aftenposten.
The sheep, vulnerable because of an age-old tradition of open grazing in
Norway, also are attacked by other predators including foxes and lynx. And
on Tuesday one rancher in Trysil found 20 of his flock lying dead under a
tree, apparently killed by lightening during a fierce electrical storm
last week.