Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
WOLVES / TT
The number of wolves in Sweden is unknown currently. Normally, a figure to be presented in March, but this year researchers have not been able to analyze their material. In addition, the winter-wide license hunting, where a total of 44 wolves were killed, complicated analyses.
“There should be a record number of shot wolves,” says Linn Svensson, wolf researcher at Viltskadecenter at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
Last year at the same time, the scientists found that the number of wolves in Sweden was probably barely 400. The figure was based on inventories that have shown that the number of family groups with last year’s pups was around 40.
This year is not yet known how many such groups in the country. So far it has been calculated into 37 groups where last year’s pups – puppies born the spring of 2014 – is reliably established.
“But we know that there will be additions,” says Linn Svensson.
This means that the number of wolves could be more than last year, but licensed hunting makes it difficult to conclude.
“A number of family groups on the list have been put away since they were recorded. We will not be able to be certain how the population is until later in the summer when all analyzes are completed,” says Linn Svensson.
Fact: Swedish wolves
At the end of last winter, there were about 370 wolves in Sweden, according to a compilation by researchers at Viltskadecenter. A large proportion of these, nearly 50 percent, were found in Värmland. Most of the remainder were in Dalarna and Örebro Counties.
It was in these three counties that year hunting license were conducted. A total of 44 wolves were shot during the hunt in January. Of the killings, 22 females and 22 males, 26 percent being one-year-old animals.