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'Elk explosion' in southern Sweden

Published: 12 Aug 09 09:01 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/21260/20090812/

Hunters in the south of Sweden have reported an 'explosion' in the elk population in the wake of winter storm Gudrun that swept through the region in 2005.

The National Board of Forestry (Skogsstyrelsen) has reported that the elk population appears to have doubled since 2005, according to a recent inventory by hunters, Sveriges Radio's Ekot news programme reports.

"In the central parts of the storm areas it looks like we have seen a dramatic increase of elk stocks," Christer Kalén at the board told Ekot.

The elks have been able to forage for more food as a result of Gudrun felling a large number of trees.

"The cleared forests are a real smorgasbord for the elk," he explained.

The board regularly fields calls from forestry owners seeking advice as to how to scare off the elks from feasting on newly planted pine trees, the weighty animal's diet of choice.

"There are many landowners out there who are desperate as they can't get their pine forests to grow," Kalén said.

A further factor benefiting elk stocks is that since the storm, rural workers have been kept busy clearing the massive stocks of fallen timber.

Hunters have simply been too busy to hunt and the elk have been given free rein to go forth and multiply.

The forestry board is now concerned that if hunters do not cull more of the elk population then road accidents will rocket and further, more longer term, damage to forests will occur.

"Then we will sustain widespread damage, they will eat everything they come across. They will probably even go for the spruce," Christer Kalén said.

External link: What is that animal? Elk or moose? »

Peter Vinthagen Simpson (news@thelocal.se/+46 8 656 6513)

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15:30 August 12, 2009 by SonnyBarger
Funny looking elk, Looks kinda like a moose...
23:56 August 12, 2009 by DavidtheNorseman
In Sweden they call them Elk. In North America they call them "Moose".

Loveable by any name (though stay out of their way during mating season and don't assume they'll move off the road for you........).

As I recall one of the Swedish Kings tried to use them for cavalry but they aren't herd beasts and used to take off in the other direction from gunfire (sensible sorts, apparently considering *they* didn't have any guns....)
04:53 August 13, 2009 by Greg in Canada
Almost hit one in my car one time. Would have most likely be dead had that happened. These are big animals.
09:01 August 13, 2009 by BlackfDes
Hej!

Without having read the article I find it offensive!

Fancy describing the demise of a poor creature suffering from constipation in such a fashion ... it is outrageous and in poor taste.

cheers

The Black One
17:46 August 13, 2009 by BoingBoing
Mind you, Moose bites can be pretty nasti
10:59 August 14, 2009 by Buttermere4
I think these here in Sweden are actually Moose. In Canada I believe they have both the Moose and Elk. I imagine they are called 'Elk' here simply because it's easier to translate from Alg to Elk than Moose! Here in Varmland we don't see so many around perhaps you could get someone from the North to come down and herd them back up the country? !!
13:04 August 14, 2009 by DamnImmigrant
Yes this IS a MOOSE; in North America there are both Moose and Elks which are 2 separate creatures.

This is one of the problems with the Swedish Language. The other word that I do not like is that Swedish only has APA to describe both Monkeys and Apes.

There is a major difference between Monkeys and Apes. The difference I like most is that a monkey will see another monkey in a mirror and an ape will see themselves.

On the other hand, I like that Swedish recognizes marriage AND poison with the same word GIFT, finally a language that speaks to the male fears ;-)
14:26 August 14, 2009 by byke
Exploding Elk !

sounds like terrorism.
19:17 August 14, 2009 by Greg in Canada
"In Canada I believe they have both the Moose and Elk"

This is true. What the Swedes call "elk" we call "moose". The Canadian elks are a smaller animal.
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