|
Wolverines are
the fifth of the large carnivore species that the LCIE focus on.
They are probably the least known of the species, both in terms of
their ecology, and also in terms of public awareness of their
existence. Mainly found throughout the mountains that run along the
spine of the Scandinavian peninsula and in northern Finland, some
individuals have recently recolonised parts of the boreal forest in
Norway, Sweden and Finland. Wolverines are often called "the hyaena
of the north" because a large part of their diet comes from
scavenging. However, they are able to kill domestic sheep and
semi-domestic reindeer, which has led to many conflicts with human
interests throughout their range. These conflicts motivate illegal
killing and official lethal control programs that are designed to
limit their numbers. Wolverines are also slow reproducers, which
makes their populations more vulnerable. |
