The lynx is a rare sight in Norway.
It is even rarer to see an entire lynx family. That’s why the video recording of the sheep farmer Ove Strand in the commune of Steigen in Nordland last week was quite spectacular.
It showed a lynx mother with three small cubs eating one of her lambs.
The sheep farmer discovered that four lambs from his pasture in Mortenstrand had been killed.
– It was a great experience to see him on a movie. Then we also had proof that there is an established family in Steigen. It’s quite rare, he noted.
Several sheep farmers in the area have wild sheep, which are outdoors all winter.
The municipality of Steigen then submitted an application for cancellation of the damage to the Norwegian Environment Agency, in order to prevent further losses.
Damage reduction can have important knock-on effects
The municipality has now rejected the application.
– We assessed the extent of the damage and the damage potential compared to the stock in Nordland, which has not met the stock target for the region and is in a negative development. Additionally, animal welfare considerations come into play in situations where puppies are still dependent on their mother.
This is what senior adviser Anders Braa says in the games section of the Norwegian Environment Agency.
Only seven lynx family groups were registered in Nordland this winter, one shows overview of Rovdata.
A family group consists of a female lynx accompanied by one or more cubs, and Nordland has a dwindling number of family groups.
There are 58.5 family groups registered across the country. There are fewer than last year and below Storting’s population target of 65 family groups.
Directing action against a family group can have a rather large effect on the stock target and survival of young people, says Braa.
And sheep farmer Ove Strand understands this.
– I understand that it is problematic when it comes to a family. It’s complicated as they had to eliminate the youngsters, says Strand.
Sheep farmer Ove Andre Strand in Steigen says it’s sad to lose animals, although it was a great experience to see the lynx family on video.
Photo: Elena Paulsen / NRK
Now he has to consider whether he can keep the animals grazing during the winter. For now, he has chosen to keep all animals inside.
– Of course it will also create challenges for other sheep farmers in Steigen. 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 need to intensify supervision.
– Is that something you have the capacity for?
– Yes, that’s something I have to do. I just have to adapt to it. There is no alternative.
I can’t shoot everyone
Anders Braa of the Norwegian Environment Agency says they cannot grant culling permits to all lynxes that cause damage.
It is justified by the fact that a certain threshold and a certain damage potential must exist before intervening to reduce the damage.
– In Norwegian gaming policy, an attempt is made to achieve geographic separation, in order to have game in certain areas and grazing animals in other areas.
– It won’t be waterproof anyway, but when it comes to lynxes in Nordland, there are both lynxes and grazing areas throughout the entire mainland county.
Anders Braa says the lynx causes a lot of damage in Nordland, but that the Norwegian Environment Agency hasn’t discovered that many losses this year.
– How much damage potential is required?
– It is often a discretionary assessment. If damage occurs at the beginning of the grazing season and significant damage has been done, without the possibility 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.
He does not file a complaint
The head of plan, development and operations in the municipality of Steigen, Andreas Sletten, says that the municipality accepts the refusal intelligence and are not considering complaining.
– Our role in this is not necessarily to have so many opinions about it, but to convey the wishes of those affected by such a situation.
Game can be killed in three ways: altitude hunting, license cancellation and damage cancellation.
In this case, compensation for damages was requested. Andreas Sletten believes there will be a discussion on whether to increase lynx hunting quotas.
– There will certainly be a discussion on how many possible lynxes can be eliminated during ordinary hunting, when the time comes.
Sletten does not feel that there are strong fronts after the rejection. But it is still a difficult area that engages.
– I did not perceive that there were any particular reactions. But it is clear that it is a subject that worries people. And then I think you understand that there are difficult decisions, both for and against, that the higher authorities make.
