The lynx is a rare sight in Norway. It is even rarer to see a whole lynx family. That is why the video recording of sheep farmer Ove Strand in the Nordland municipality of Steigen last week is quite spectacular. It showed a mother lynx with three small cubs eating one of his lambs. The sheep farmer discovered that four lambs on his pasture at Mortenstrand had been killed. – It was a great experience to see it on film. Then we also got proof that there is an established family in Steigen. It is quite rare, he noted. Several sheep farmers in the area have wild sheep, which are outside all winter. Steigen municipality therefore submitted an application for cancellation of damage to the Norwegian Environment Agency, in order to prevent further losses. Damage reduction can have major knock-on effects Now the municipality has rejected the application. – We have weighed the extent of damage and damage potential against consideration of the stock in Nordland, which has not reached the stock target for the region and is in a negative development. In addition, animal welfare considerations come into play in situations where the cubs are still dependent on the mother. That’s what senior adviser Anders Braa says in the game section of the Norwegian Environment Agency. Only seven family groups with lynxes were registered in Nordland this winter, shows an overview from Rovdata. A family group consists of a female lynx accompanied by one or more cubs, and Nordland has a decline in the number of family groups. In the whole country, 58.5 family groups are registered. There are fewer than last year and below the Storting’s population target of 65 family groups. – Directing a claim against a family group can have quite a large effect on the stock target and the survival of the young, says Braa. And sheep farmer Ove Strand understands that. – I understand that it is problematic when it is a family. It is complicated in that they had to take out the young, says Strand. Sheep farmer Ove Andre Strand in Steigen says it is sad to lose animals, even though it was a great experience to see the lynx family on video. Photo: Elena Paulsen / news Now he has to assess whether he can keep the animals out on pasture through the winter. For now, he has chosen to keep all the animals inside. – It will of course create challenges for other sheep farmers in Steigen as well. It’s not just about me. It is clear that there are many who are nervous about the consequences. In addition, the sheep farmer will have to step up with extra supervision. – Is it something you have the capacity for? – Yes, it is something I have to do. I just have to adjust to it. There is no alternative. Can’t shoot all Anders Braa in the Norwegian Environment Agency says that they cannot grant felling permits to all lynxes that cause damage. It is justified by the fact that there must be a certain threshold and damage potential before taking action to reduce the damage. – In Norwegian game policy, an attempt is made to achieve a geographical separation, so that you have game in certain areas and grazing animals in other areas. – It will not be watertight anyway, but when it comes to lynx in Nordland, there are both lynx and grazing areas in the entire mainland county. Anders Braa says that the lynx causes a lot of damage in Nordland, but that the Norwegian Environment Agency has not uncovered so many losses this year. – How much damage potential is needed? – It is often a discretionary assessment. If damage occurs early in the grazing season and significant damage has been done, with no chance of preventive measures, the list is low. But if it happens at the end of the grazing season, there will be a correspondingly high threshold. Does not submit a complaint Planning, development and operations manager in Steigen municipality, Andreas Sletten, says the municipality is taking note of the refusal and that they are not considering a complaint. – Our role in this is not necessarily to have so many opinions about it, but to convey the wishes of those who are affected in such a situation. Wild game can be felled in three ways: quota hunting, license cancellation and damage cancellation. In this case, damages were sought. Andreas Sletten believes there will be a discussion about whether quota hunting for lynx should be increased. – There will certainly be a discussion about how many possible lynxes will be able to be taken out during ordinary hunting, when the time comes. Sletten does not feel that there are any strong fronts after the rejection. But it is still a difficult area that engages. – I have not perceived that there have been any special reactions. But it is clear that it is a topic that preoccupies people. And then I think there is an understanding that there are decisions that are difficult, both for and against, that authorities further up make.
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The Norwegian Environment Agency will not kill lynxes that took several lambs in Steigen – news Nordland
