Published 01.06.2022

The wolverine, our largest mustelid, is critically endangered and yet subjected to horrific den removals where both the mother and her cubs are killed. The Norwegian Society for Nature Conservation demands that this unethical practice stop, and that the wolverine is granted protection and respect as a key species in Norwegian nature. The wolverine is more than just a predator – it is an important piece in the balance of nature.

Norges Miljøvernforbund cannot accept that the state continues to kill wolverine cubs. Like other wildlife in Norway, the wolverine must be protected by a breeding season ban. Currently, decisions on den removals are locked without the possibility of appeal, which we find completely unacceptable. On May 18, 2022, the Environmental Protection Association sent a demand to the Ministry of Climate and Environment, calling for an immediate halt to the killing of wolverine cubs.

The wolverine is a key species in Norwegian nature, our largest mustelid, and a charming, tough creature. It mainly lives in mountainous areas, tundra, and forests in the north, where it plays an important role in the ecosystem as both a predator and scavenger. The wolverine can kill prey much larger than itself, such as reindeer, and at the same time helps clean up nature by eating carcasses. With its powerful jaws, it can crush even the thickest bones from an elk carcass to access the nutritious marrow. Additionally, the wolverine is known for being a typical hoarder, storing surplus prey for later use, often in snowdrifts or under rock piles.

Despite the fact that the wolverine plays an important role in the ecosystem, it has for many years been in conflict with the livestock industry. The claim that the wolverine takes large amounts of sheep and reindeer is particularly problematic. However, the figures show a different reality: Documented and compensated losses caused by wolverines have been stable or decreasing in recent years, despite the population increasing. At the same time, the wolverine is listed as critically endangered on the national red list and globally threatened, which should carry weight in management decisions.

Nevertheless, brutal den culling operations are carried out, where both the female wolverine and her pups are killed. This is done by the Directorate for Nature Management (SNO), which tracks down the dens and euthanizes the animals directly. The culling is justified by the fact that the wolverine population exceeds the Parliament's target of 39 annual litters. This form of "population control" is carried out using methods such as helicopters and snowmobiles, which Norges Miljøvernforbund finds both immoral and cruel. The den culling not only impacts individual animals but also threatens the wolverine's place in Norwegian nature.

In Norway, we have three genetically distinct populations of wolverines: one northern, one eastern, and one southern. These populations are partially isolated from each other, making them especially vulnerable. Despite this, the authorities choose to prioritize damage prevention in the grazing industry over the conservation of this endangered species. At the same time, research shows that the wolverine has a positive impact on other species, such as the Arctic fox, by keeping the red fox away and sharing food scraps from its own hunts. This highlights how important the wolverine is for maintaining balance in the ecosystem.

NMF believes that the wolverine should be allowed to live in its natural environment without being subjected to this kind of hunting. Normal hunting can be accepted in carefully regulated forms, but it must be done in a way that ensures the wolverine is killed in a humane and ethical manner. Brutal den extractions have no place in modern and ethical wildlife management. The wolverine has intrinsic value as a fascinating species, and it is an important element in Norwegian nature that we cannot afford to lose.

It is time to stop the den extractions and ensure the wolverine a safe and permanent protection. Nature needs the wolverine, and we have a responsibility to manage the species with respect and consideration.

• Norges Miljøvernforbunds klage til KLD på jervedrap ved hiuttak (pdf)
• Denne artikkelen i printbart format (pdf)