PRACTICAL SUPPORT - Wildlife Damage Centre (Viltskadecenter): Dealing with large carnivore conflicts | Sweden

Abstract 

Species: Wolf, bear, lynx, wolverine

Country: Sweden

Implementation: 1996 – ongoing

Contact info: jens [dot] frankslu [dot] se (jens[dot]frank[at]slu[dot]se)

More information: https://www.slu.se/en/Collaborative-Centres-and-Projects/wildlife-damage-centre/

The issue:

Sweden is home to four species of large carnivore: wolves, bears, wolverines and the Eurasian lynx. Historically, all four species were heavily hunted, resulting in significant population declines. Following the implementation of various conservation measures, including legal protection and regulated hunting regimes, their populations have recovered in recent years. Their comeback presents a complex challenge. While this is a success for biodiversity and ecosystem health, it has also led to increased conflict. Depredation of livestock and semi-domestic reindeer causes significant tension between local stakeholders and the authorities. The killing of hunting dogs and the depredation of game species such as roe deer further exacerbate these conflicts.

The solution: 

Creating a balance between the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of economic and social interests in areas where predators are present is not an easy task, but it can be done! 

The Swedish Wildlife Damage Centre (Viltskadecenter, VSC) is a part of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and is a government-funded collaborative centre. The VSC brings together researchers with decades of experience in dealing with wildlife damage, who carry out a range of research and consultancy activities. It plays a key role in developing and implementing strategies to reduce conflicts between humans and large carnivores. This includes providing education and advice to livestock owners and other relevant stakeholders, conducting research, compiling information for the public and monitoring large carnivore populations and their behaviour. The VSC collaborates with various authorities, research institutions, and interest organisations to ensure that its work is both scientifically sound and practically applicable.

Actions:

• Research and compilation of damage prevention measures for different large carnivore species and stakeholders. The VSC collects and scientifically reviews different measures. Comprehensive information is published in various reports and fact sheets, which are available on their website. These include topics such as preventive measures against large carnivore depredation in general, bear damage to beekeeping, wolf attacks on dogs, emergency measures after a first depredation incident, and measures to prevent reindeer damages.
• Research and compilation of recommendations for stakeholders. These recommendations are continuously updated and based on scientific studies, practical trials and experiences, as well as discussions with different stakeholders. They are published in various reports, fact sheets and on their website, covering topics such as grants and compensation, predator-repellent fencing (RAS) and, livestock guarding dogs.
• Annual Wildlife damage statistics report. Every year, the VSC compiles data on large carnivore damages, contributions to damage prevention measures and on compensation, based on inspections and decisions made by the county administrative boards. The damage statistics reports are available on their website.
• Research into human behaviour and fear of large carnivores, using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates psychology and ecology. This research focuses on understanding the causes of human fear and developing management measures to address these concerns. The results are summarised in a report, which also includes practical advice, aimed at administrators, on how to reduce people’s fear of bears and wolves.  
• Provision of guidelines and information for administrators and their field staff related to large carnivore damages. These include, among others, guides for taking DNA samples of depredated livestock or dead wolves,
• Nationally applied protocols for administrators to react to problematic incidents involving large carnivores.
• Protocols for the administrators to coordinate the reaction amongst the different bodies involved (police, rangers, hunters).
• Provision of an incident form to collect information on incidents and improve learning from incidents.
• Provision of basic large carnivore knowledge for officials. The target group includes officials at various authorities, such as the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the Swedish Courts, the Police, county administrative boards, municipalities, and interest groups. These officials occasionally need quick access to brief information about large carnivores for their duties.
• Training sessions are offered for administrators and stakeholders, including rangers, police and Wildlife Management Delegations. These sessions cover topics such as inspecting livestock damage and training wildlife detection dogs, along with their handlers.
• Collaboration with a range of stakeholders e.g. hunters to reduce risk-taking behaviour.
• Reaction to problematic incidents involving large carnivores, including food source removal, aversive conditioning and potential removal of problem animals.

What changed:

Administrators and stakeholders now have access to comprehensive resources and support to help them make informed decisions and limit damage and conflict. Increased cooperation and communication between the authorities, researchers and local communities has fostered cooperation and reduced tensions. Having a set procedure with a specific timetable for dealing with large carnivore conflicts increases people’s trust in the administration. It also reduces the number of large carnivores that are removed unnecessarily by limiting the definitions of “problem bear” or “bold wolf” to animals that truly pose a danger to humans or display unwanted behaviour.

Financing: 

The Viltskadecenter is funded by the government. 

Other examples: 

Norwegian Centre for Wildlife Damage Management 
The centre is a national competence network that provides advise, research, information and development work on wildlife damages, mainly focusing on large carnivore attacks on sheep and semi-domestic reindeers. The centre is also monitoring the Scandinavian bear population using genetics