May 23, 2017 by thewolfintelligencer

Pining for better days in the fjords: Norway’s wolves are being hunted; its reindeer are going mad | The Economist

“SJALDAN liggjandi ulfr laer um getr,” goes a passage in the Havamal, a medieval Norse poem: “The sleeping wolf seldom gets a ham.” The maxim, like the one about early birds and worms, is an exhortation against laziness, but it also conjures a vision of Norway as a land of untamed nature, where wolves chase boars through snow-bound forests. This may have been true in the 10th century, but today the country’s wild fauna are not doing as well. Wolves are rare, and the government is under pressure to cull them further. Another iconic species faces a different threat: chronic wasting disease (CWD), a sort of mad cow disease that can infect reindeer.

Source: Pining for better days in the fjords: Norway’s wolves are being hunted; its reindeer are going mad | The Economist

May 16, 2017 by thewolfintelligencer

Norwegian government could lose voters over wolves – The Local

Support for Norway’s Conservative (Høyre) party, the largest party in the country’s coalition government, has dropped by seven points in some areas.The pole, carried out by InFact on behalf of broadcaster NRK along with a number of local newspapers, shows a swing away from the party in both Hedmark and Oppland counties.Høyre’s main parliamentary candidate for Hedmark County Kristian Tonning Riise told NRK that he believed the lost ground could be the result of a recent debate on control of wolves in Norway, in which a parliamentary proposal on wolf control was not supported by Høyre, resulting in the culling of 47 wolves being reduced to 15.

Source: Norwegian government could lose voters over wolves – The Local

January 1, 2017 by thewolfintelligencer

Outrage as Sweden’s majestic wolves set for culling after court ruling | Nature | News | Daily Express

On Friday, a Supreme Administrative Court announced plans to shoot 24 wolves could go ahead, despite massive protests it could lead to the extinction of the magnificent beasts in the Scandinavian country.Torbjorn Nilsson, the President of the Swedish Association predators, hit out against the ruling as he said the Swedish wolf population was already so low it could compromise its future in the wild. He said: “I think it’s an unfortunate and surprising decision.“It is unfortunate because the wolf population is still quite small, very inbred and too isolated. Therefore, one should not hunt in this way.”

Source: Outrage as Sweden’s majestic wolves set for culling after court ruling | Nature | News | Daily Express

December 22, 2016 by thewolfintelligencer

Huge Victory for Norway’s Wolves

Vidar Helgesen, the Norwegian minister for climate and environment, announced Tuesday that the government denied permission to shoot the four wolf packs in the areas of Letjenna, Osdalen, Kynna and Slettås. The government concluded that there is no legal basis for the hunt, neither in the national nature protection laws nor in the Bern Convention, acknowledging the appeal from Friends of the Earth Norway to stop the hunt.

Source: Huge Victory for Norway’s Wolves

December 11, 2016 by thewolfintelligencer

New dog safety vest counters wolf attacks in eastern Finland | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi

Residents of the eastern town of Nurmes in Finland will be testing out a new invention designed to keep their pets safe next spring: A safety vest for dogs that contains chili cartridges.If a wolf attacks a dog wearing the vest and punctures the fabric, the cartridges release chili powder that sprays on the wolf’s face and mouth.Prototypes of the product were available already in 2014, but the actual vests will be trailed for the first time in Finland in the spring of 2017. People who have agreed to participate in the testing have been asked to keep a list of the pros and cons of the invention.

Source: New dog safety vest counters wolf attacks in eastern Finland | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi

October 8, 2016 by thewolfintelligencer

10 Majestic Photos Capturing The Unlikely Friendship Between A Wolf And A Bear

Circumstances have allowed many diverse creatures to become friends, but the camaraderie between a wolf and bear in Finland is certainly one of the most unique we’ve ever seen. The unlikely duo was spotted – and then photographed – by Finnish photographer Lassi Rautiainen when she was venturing through the untrodden backcountry of her homeland. […]