There are perhaps 415 wolves in Sweden and the predator has created an uproar among farmers, hunters and environmentalists in the province of Varmland, with the EU involved as well, reports the New York Times. Sheep farmers fear attacks on their flocks, although the government compensates them for losses and subsidizes the cost of building fences to protect farm animals. Hunting groups complain that wolves kill so many moose for food that moose hunting, a tradition in the region, is in danger.
Wolves are a protected species. The Swedish government has culled the population periodically since 2010, including 44 wolves this year. The latest hunt brought warning letters from the EU, which says Sweden must prove that it is not endangering the survival of a rare species, says reporter Stephen Castle. The Wolf Association Sweden says a population of 1,500 to 3,000 is necessary to assure sustainability of wolves in Sweden.