– It is very serious when you visit people’s homes and can cause great damage to both the car and the crew, says felling leader John Amundgaard. The felling team in Rafjellet ulverevir has been commissioned to shoot six wolves. But opponents of the wolf hunt are literally sticking sticks in the wheels of the hunters. – Presumably someone has taken pictures of the number plates of the hunters in the felling team and sought out private addresses. Foot traps must have been posted at night, says Amundgaard. Minister of Agriculture Geir Pollestad (Sp) visited wolf hunters in Kongsvinger. Here together with felling leader John Amundgaard. Photo: Knut Erik Røsrud / news Several of the hunters have reported this to the police. – There is someone who has driven off the road because of this, says Amundgaard. In addition, several have punctured. – Then the guardians have moved from case to person. Felling leader John Amundgaard holds up a “foot angel”. Photo: Knut Erik Røsrud / news – Totally reprehensible Jim Schelander in active predator protection told news on Wednesday evening that he reacts strongly to activists doing this. – I think that is completely reprehensible. We completely distance ourselves from it. It’s not the kind of means we want to use, he says. He says what they have done is to deliberately and visibly take down flag lines to put the spotlight on what is going on in the forest. The picture, which is for illustration, shows flag lines set up along a forest road. Photo: JAN PAHLE KORITZINSKY Flaglines are used to call in the wolves and limit the area. But Schelander believes the limit is reached when you destroy another man’s property. – It puts guardians in a very bad light. We don’t want to have such a reputation. We try to behave like people and have a good tone with both hunters and the police in such situations. Jim Schelander is with Active Predator Protection. Photo: Frode Meskau / news – On behalf of society at large On Thursday, Agriculture Minister Geir Pollestad visited the hunting team, to see and learn. He reacts strongly to campaigners going after the hunters in this way. – It is completely unacceptable, quite simply. It is important to say that this is not something the hunters do because they have come up with it themselves. This is to follow up on adopted policy. They are doing a job on behalf of society at large, and to be exposed to sabotage, that is completely unacceptable, says Pollestad. Wolf hunters in Rafjellet in Kongsvinger have reported sabotage and vandalism by campaigners to the police. Photo: Knut Erik Røsrud / news The Minister of Agriculture is well aware of the level of conflict when it comes to wolf hunting, but urges everyone to stick to the matter. – That is when you are listened to. If you move on to illegality or defamation, that type of thing, then it is unacceptable. And I don’t think that serves anyone, says Pollestad. Have received several reports Head of service at Flisa police station, Mathis Briskerud, says they have received reports from four different hunters. – The police will look at those cases as acts of damage that have occurred against people on private property, says Briskerud. He says that they have had some cases where the police have been called, and in one case also expelled an activist who had damaged a flag line. Service manager at Flisa police station, Mathis Briskerud. Photo: Knut Erik Røsrud / news – How difficult is it to investigate this? – It goes without saying that if we have nothing special to go on, it can be problematic to get an immediate solution to these types of cases. We are dependent on tips and witnesses with whom we can proceed. A flag line must have been destroyed. Photo: Knut Erik Røsrud / news Have killed three out of six wolves The wolf license felling started on New Year’s Day. The quota for wolf hunting in the Rafjell area in the forests of Kongsvinger and Grue includes six animals. The felling team in Rafjellet has many hunters out in the terrain. On average, 100–120 people have been active in the felling attempts. After four effective days, during which three wolves are to be shot, things have been a bit quiet due to the cold and difficult tracking conditions, says felling leader John Amundgaard. License hunting for predators License felling is an injury-motivated felling. When the authorities decide that a certain number of individuals of a game species can be hunted, they do so on the basis of the Biodiversity Act. The legislation allows for license cancellation of lynx, wolverine, bear and wolf. It is the public authorities that set the quota on how many animals can be slaughtered from year to year. You must be over 18 years of age and registered as a licensed hunter to be able to participate during license suspension. In addition, you must pay the hunter’s fee. Hunting for the following predators takes place during the period: Wolverine: 10 September to and including 15 February Bear: 21 August to and including 15 October Wolf Within the management area for breeding wolves: 1 January to and including 15 February Wolves outside the management area for breeding wolves: 1 October to 31 March inclusive (Source: Rovviltportalen)
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Agriculture Minister Geir Pollestad says sabotage of the wolf hunt in Kongsvinger is unacceptable – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
