There are four large carnivore species in Finland, all belonging to different families. The lynx is a feline, the wolf is a canine, the brown bear is from the family Ursus and the wolverine is from the family of weasels.
The wolf (Canis lupus) is a mammal of the canine family. Biologically speaking, it is the same species as the domestic dog. The wolf is the largest canine living in the wild. Out of all the northern predators, the wolf is the most social species that prefers to live in packs formed by family units. Wolves communicate with each other via postures, gestures, facial expressions, scent marks and howling. Contrary to what stories tell us, the wolves do not howl more than usual during the full moon. Wolves howl to signal the beginning of hunt, to guard their territory and to call the pack together.
Mon Feb 22 13:25:00 2016
A total of 27 applications for the population-based hunting of 116 wolves were received. The Finnish Wildlife Agency assessed and examined the applications case-specifically and granted licenses for the hunting of 46 wolves for population management purposes. Only three licenses were unused.
Appeals were lodged in regional administrative courts regarding all favorable decisions, but the appeals did not lead to a standstill clause. The granted licenses were valid for 30 days during 23.1.–21.2.2016.
The hunt’s progress could be followed online with the Finnish Wildlife Agency’s “catch chart”. Catch data were automatically updated in the chart after the reception of the catch notification. The chart will be complemented with more details about the wolves after they have been examined by the Finnish Natural Resources Institute.
The two-year trial has amassed data about how the population-based hunting impacts the wolves’ behavior, the pack’s vitality and the people’s attitudes. The Finnish Wildlife Agency and the Natural Resources Institute will assess the hunt’s practical implementation by next autumn. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will later decide on its continuation.
Territory-based hunting for population management purposes aims to secure the wolf population’s already suitable protection level and improve the coexistence between humans and wolves according to the Wolf Management Plan’s objectives. The EU’s Habitats Directive enables the population-based hunting of large carnivores on the conditions that the game species has a management plan and that the hunting will not weaken the obtainment of the protection level – and if there is no other satisfactory solution to the conflict.
Population-based hunting in Finland has previously concentrated on lynxes and bears, clearly reducing conflicts caused by them. This type of hunting has created added value to the large carnivores and increased their acceptance amongst the locals.
Data on the population-based hunt's wolf catches
Finland’s Wolf Management Plan
For more information:
Härkönen, Sauli, Director for Public Administration Tasks, The Finnish Wildlife Agency
029 431 2104, sauli.harkonen@riista.fi
Howling of a wolf pack
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