– I am very impressed with the administration. It is a management plan and a system that works, says senior adviser Tord Bretten. He works in the National Nature Inspectorate (SNO) with, among other things, muskrats and arctic foxes. In the management plan he is talking about, it is stated that there should be a maximum of 200 muskox in the winter. As a result, some animals must be shot, and this year this probably applies to up to 25 animals. – There is a plan, and that plan is followed, says Bretten. The reason why the muskrat population is regulated is compounded. Tord Bretten does not work with the administration itself, but is responsible for all measures that the administration wants to carry out on musk. Photo: Even Lusæter / news Wandering out Even though the musk species goes back a few thousand years, the population of musk that is on Dovrefjell today was first seen in 1947. – It is not a species that is desirable to spread to new areas, says Bretten. In 1932 and 1938 musk deer were also seen on Dovrefjell, but that population died out. Photo: Tord Bretten/Statens Naturoppsyn The first management plan for musk was drawn up for the first time in 1996. Then it was drawn up, among other things, in collaboration with municipalities that had musk in their area. Also municipalities that do not wish to have musk on Dovrefjell. – Then it was assumed that around 70 animals would be suitable, says senior adviser Erik Lund in the Directorate of the Environment, who works with the administration in particular. After 1996, the management plan has been revised several times, both as a result of population growth and increased local tolerance for somewhat higher populations. The latest revision is from 2017. Musk ox Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Musk ox, also called musk ox or polar ox, is a two-toed ungulate in the ox family. Musk cattle usually appear in smaller herds of eight to ten animals, but herds of 20–30 animals are not unusual either. The largest herds can number up to 100 animals. The leader of the herd is a full-grown bull who is followed by three to four adult animals, the rest are young animals. Mating time is in the summer, and takes place after heavy mating matches. The animal moves quickly and climbs well. The body length of a musk deer is up to 2.5 metres, and the tail is approximately 7 cm long. The shoulder height is approximately 165 centimeters and the weight 350–450 kg in wild animals. In captivity, the animals can weigh up to 650 kg. The cows are considerably smaller than the oxen. The musk deer is found in tundra areas in the northern hemisphere, and is more closely related to sheep and goats than to cattle. The tundra is usually dominated by shrubs and/or dwarf shrubs, perennial herbs and mosses and lichens in various combinations. Musk is a survivor from the last Ice Age. At that time, the animal had a large distribution in Asia, America and Europe. Remains of animals from the last interglacial have been found, among other things, at Innset in Kvikne. Today, the species occurs in northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Scandinavia, but only in Canada and Greenland are there original populations. In Norway, there is a population of muskox which originates from animals released at Dovre in 1947-1953. Because, in Norway, musk deer have been seen several times. First on Svalbard in 1929, but the tribe died out in the 1980s. Animals were also seen at Dovre in 1932 and 1938, but were exterminated during the Second World War. In 1947 and later, new animals have been seen at Dovre, the stock has increased and is now well established. Animals from the Norwegian stock have also emigrated to Sweden (the Femunden–Härjedalen border regions). Postings have also been carried out in Alaska, in West Greenland and in Russia. Together, these have contributed to around 25 stocks in these areas. Source: Great Norwegian encyclopedia Getting sick and dying Lund says the population was at times closer to 300 individuals, but that this has created a problem. The animals have wandered, and have not stayed within the core area. – We have seen in the past that the denser and larger the population, the more people are hit on the road and track, and the more people fall ill, says Bretten. Bretten says that since 2017, work has been done to reduce the winter stock to 200 animals. Before this, the population could grow freely and it stabilized at around 250 animals. Then diseases such as pneumonia and scabies also became critical for the musk. – When we have 200 animals, we have much less disease, and then we avoid calves dying very, very slowly, says Bretten. Shoot entire herds To find out how many animals must be shot, SNO counts how many calves are born in the summer, and in autumn they count how many calves have died. Now the muskox population is a maximum of 233 animals, i.e. no more than 233. Therefore, around 25 muskox must be shot. According to Bretten, around five to ten animals die that they are unable to find, and SNO expects that some will die in the winter. – Somewhat off the cliff. There has been heat, the bulls have quarreled, so some bulls will die from heat damage, says Bretten. Photo: Arnt Olsen When animals are to be shot, they take whole herds of ideally five to seven animals. – If you start picking animals from herds, they learn that humans are dangerous and then they become shy. If they become shy at Dovrefjell, then they cannot be here, says Bretten. Which flock is to be shot is not random. It must be put together in a certain way. – Oxane lives very dangerously. The male animal has a hard life. They often die for other reasons, so what I take out are as many adult head animals as possible to keep the cow share down, says Bretten. Then you get less production, and there will be less need to shoot next year, says Bretten. Tourism, meat and fur Bretten says that tens of thousands of tourists enter the area of the muskox every single year, and that they must read information posters and behave as it says. He urges you to keep your distance, at least 200 metres. Among other things because the musk deer must be allowed to graze and put on fat to make it through the winter. Bretten also points out that the musk ox has a completely different behavior than the other large ruminants. – They usually don’t run away, they defend themselves. There are a lot of people who don’t understand that and go very close. It is dangerous, says Bretten. When muskox are shot, these are delivered to the butchery so that the meat and fur can be used to the full. Skins and heads are sold, and the meat becomes human food. There are usually two to three people involved when the muskets are to be shot. They also have two to three people who work with them at the slaughterhouse. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Bretten says he has a professional relationship with shooting the muskox. – I grew up on Dovrefjell, I grew up with musk. I like musk, but I still do my job, says Bretten. – So it is for the musk’s own good, in a way? – Yes. I have seen the option. I have seen many animals die from scabies and pneumonia. It’s really ugly.
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Must shoot muskox on Dovrefjell so that the tribe will remain stable – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
