Finland's wolf population declining

[Eldritch]

http://yle.fi/ecepic/archive/00185/susi_tarkkailee_ruo_185806b.jpg

The country's wolf population has dropped by around 100 in the past four years. Today forests are home to between 150 and 185 wolves, according to the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute (RKTL). The hunting season for wolves began on Monday.

Officials have issued permits to kill 22 wolves, three of which are for areas outside those designated for reindeer herding.

Ilpo Kojola, a senior scientist at RKTL, says high mortality rates and poaching have contributed to the wolf population’s decline.

This year wolf sightings have been made in reindeer herding areas in Pudasjärvi, northern Ostrobothnia, according to Kojola.

Link. (http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/11/finlands_wolf_population_shrinks_2107570.html)

Huh? Weren't we told just a couple of years ago that the populations of wolves are increasing dangerously quickly? :scratch:

[The Lawspeaker]

I don't get it. First they seemed to be burgeoning and now they seem to be declining. I wonder what could be going on ? :scratch:

[Motörhead Remember Me]

http://yle.fi/ecepic/archive/00185/susi_tarkkailee_ruo_185806b.jpg

Huh? Weren't we told just a couple of years ago that the populations of wolves are increasing dangerously quickly? :scratch:

Strange... I remember that the number was around 500??? Those wolf figures are really weird since last time I checked there were only 200 in Sweden which was less than half than in Finlnad???:confused:

[Wölfin]

Could be several factors including natural population decline and rise. How is their prey population? How is their territories? Could there be poachers?

[The Ripper]

Could be several factors including natural population decline and rise. How is their prey population? How is their territories? Could there be poachers?

Wolves are disliked because of the damage they do to reindeer flocks and farm animals, so many are shot without official permission. I also suspect that they move quite freely across the Russian border, so they may simply have moved off... But I'm just speculating here.