Finnish Turf Battle: Wolf Against Reindeer Herder
Nice to see Finland in yesterday’s New York Times. And it’s about a topic that touches every Finn so dearly, wolves…
Finland, which joined the European Union in 1995, came under criticism that its hunting practices did not mesh with European habitat directives. So in 2001, the Finnish government tightened its hunting laws to meet European Union standards. Finnish law now states that every kill must be covered by a permit and restricts the number of permits to about 10 percent of a particular predator’s known numbers.
Seven years later, the populations of wolves, lynxes, brown bears and wolverines in Finland have grown substantially, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Helsinki. In this area, the number of wolves has roughly tripled since 1996, and attacks on reindeer herds have increased more than threefold in the past 10 years.
[...]Asko Moilanen, 40, a third-generation herder, said that because of his losses to predators over the past three years, his income from reindeer has been reduced to almost nothing. “Either we should be allowed to hunt or they should pay compensation for the real losses,†he said. “It affects my whole life and my family.
[...]In much of Finland, reindeer hold a hallowed place in the collective imagination, perhaps akin to the buffalo in the history of the American West.
What’s the number of wolves in Finland now? What do you think is a suitable number?
Comment by Anonymous — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 9:59 am
I dig the wolf picture, Phil.
Comment by James — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 10:25 am
What’s the number of wolves in Finland now? What do you think is a suitable number?
Actually I have no idea, I’m just joking around here. But it is kinda silly that the EU is dictating the wolf population in Finland. Although honestly, I tend to trust the EU more than Finnish politicians.
Comment by Phil — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 10:34 am
I dig the wolf picture, Phil.
Hehe, I stole the idea from here…
http://www.snorgtees.com/1threattoamericabears-p-250.html
Comment by Phil — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 10:38 am
There is a problem with the control and census of the Wolf population.
Many of the wolves wander in and out of Russia when tracking prey.
The area across the border is very dense uncared for forest.
So the wolves camp/hide there and then hunt here.
Wolves can dig under border fences..Reindeer cant.
When the counting is done..many of the wolves are..not accounted for..they have gone back to Russia.
One point I have alway been a bit suspicious of is the way licence to hunt/cull wolves are awarded…Very Cluby.
Plus a lack of checking of what else is shot.by accident..the odd Artic Fox for instance..it’s pelt fetches a nice sum from the Fur trade Association.
Those making the most noise against EU regulation are probably those who shoot the blue fox…by accident.
Comment by karhu — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 10:40 am
Why doesn’t the government compensate for losses due to wild predators? I know they do in Norway, and herders/farmers are happy.
Comment by Kai — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 10:59 am
>> There is a problem with the control and census of the Wolf population.
Yes those wolves have no respect for international borders. Shoot ‘em!
Comment by Steve Jackson — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 10:59 am
Many of the wolves wander in and out of Russia when tracking prey.
Simple solution: Giant wall. That’ll keep the Mexicans out! Er…
Comment by Phil — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 11:10 am
When the counting is done..many of the wolves are..not accounted for..they have gone back to Russia.
Census takers are like the TV license inspectors for the wolves.
Comment by Phil — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 11:12 am
Why doesn’t the government compensate for losses due to wild predators?
That’s a business for them up there, and if we compensate them, why not compensate all businesses who lose money due to uncontrolled conditions?
Comment by Phil — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 11:13 am
> why not compensate all businesses who lose money due to uncontrolled conditions?
Yes, why not. Many businesses are, especially in agriculture, where compensations are paid during bad crop years. There is also a huge private industry that’s paying compensation for uncontrolled conditions, it’s called insurance.
But the real point here is that the government is restricting private property rights. Hunting rights belong to the land owner, and they are willing to exercise these rights in order to control the wolf population. So the conditions are uncontrolled due to government coercion. That’s why compensation should be paid.
I’m not for unrestricted predator hunts and anti-environmentalism, but if property rights are limited then there should be compensation.
Comment by T — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
@10 But the government is controlling - thats the whole issue.
Comment by Hank W. — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Phil: “I tend to trust the EU more than Finnish politicians.”
Agreed. Aside from trusting the EU more, I think EU researchers have a better overall picture of Europe than any single country does. This reminds me of how some countries want to keep whaling. But if they continue, there’ll eventually be no more whales. Of course, I don’t know if we’d miss them (I’ve never actually met a whale).
The other side of the wolf issue also has some merit though. Maybe Finland should trap them (alive), and then release them into central Europe. Do you think that would cause a change of mind in Brussels?
Comment by Kristian — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
13: Oh yes, the EU is such a fountain of logic and reason, and not at all corruptible. No one games the system, right?
Does anyone remember when Belgium and some other countries tried to restrict the definition of chocolate so practically none of the Finnish chocolates could be called such anymore?
And what about the VoiMariini debacle? Valio had to change the name to Oivariini in order to “not confuse the consumers”. Yeah right. If I had been in a position to make the call in Valio, I would have branded it Voima-Riini. Then there would no longer have been the confusing voi word in the name.
Let us also not forget the very vocally proposed ban of all sales of tar. That would have meant no more tar for roofers or boat builders, no more tar shampoo and *gasp* no more Terva-Leijona. However, that was quietly buried when somebody clued them in on the fact that it would also have meant no more sales of tobacco. It’s amazing how fast the wind shifts when big money comes into the equation.
Comment by Fat Bastard — Tue, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
Red Foxes are everywhere in Lapland. In the old days people used to poison them. But now the law says you can’t poison them, so Red Foxes have taken over big time. Arctic Fox is extremely rare and can’t put up with Red Foxes! Now the state has to hire men with snowmobiles to hunt the Red Foxes down…
Comment by Hihhuuliihei — Wed, Jan 23rd, 2008 @ 2:37 am
14: Oddly enough, the famed EU biocide directive (or tar directive as it is known here) never tried to ban the sale of tar or it’s use in shampoo or foods, only it’s use in protecting wood. So according to EU, it might have been carsinogenic when you sniff it in an old wooden church but totally healthy to rub it into your hair or eat it.
Comment by T — Wed, Jan 23rd, 2008 @ 9:49 am
Wolves are competitors to the hunters. That’s why they need to go. Hunters whine and whine that oh, the deer was eaten. And how silly, after we shot one of the alpha couple (the only male and female within a pack that are allowed to make offspring), the wolves are all scattered and start going after our dogs in the garden! What a bunch of ignorent redneck twats!
I got two packs nearby. About 10 wolves (in a vast area!). They do not bother me and I am not keeping my dogs in the garden as an easy snack. Plenty of deer and other nature animals for them to feed on. Still the hunters asked for a hunting permit, but it was refused, thank god.
200 wolves in Finland. Be happy that Russia provides us with more because 200 is a unhealthy number for a wolf population. Just imagine how a village of 200 would look if those 200 inhabitants were only to mate with other people from the same village…
Comment by majava — Wed, Jan 23rd, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
“Arctic Fox is extremely rare and can’t put up with Red Foxes!”
According to Wikipedia the population of arctic foxes is estimated to be around 10 in Finland. Seems like the #2 threat to national security by juntti standards. But the lords of Helsinki and Russels just won’t give those hunting permits.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Sat, Jan 26th, 2008 @ 1:00 pm