Abstract

Topic: Moose management and monitoring

Moose and People in Sweden during 8 000 years

Kjell Danell¹, Roger Bergström², Margareta Stéen², Leif Mattsson³, David⁴

Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Kent, Great Glen Wildlife, Sherren, Harray, Orkney, England

Sweden is a land of forests, within which the moose reigns as a King. No other animal has captured the imagination of our people for as long as the moose. It is depicted in rock carvings and on early stone tools discovered by archaeologists. Thousands of Swedish place names contain the word "moose” and, when traveling across the country today, one encounters restaurants, tourist facilities, and shopping establishments named after the moose. The moose cult is, indeed, very much alive! Moose hunting was once the exclusive privilege of royalty, but this is no longer the case. Today, moose hunting is a major seasonal event for many, serving as a social bond within local communities. An increasing number of women are participating and there are hunting groups composed exclusively of women. Many families possess highly specialized moose-hunting dogs. Moose meat has long been, and remains, an important food source in many households; and, during years of hardship, moose were hunted year-round, especially in winter when snow cover was deep. The species approached extinction around 1800 but, through strict and prolonged protection efforts, the population recovered. By the early 1980s, Sweden was culling as many moose as the rest of the world combined. The moose's multifaceted history in Sweden is unquestionably a story worth telling. In the richly illustrated book Moose and People in Sweden during 8,000 Years, we explore its history and lore across 27 chapters. Included are topics such as its ancient history, biology and ecology, the benefits and drawbacks of its presence, hunting and trapping methods, weaponry and dogs used for hunting, legislation, management past and present, and the moose's place in society and in folklore. This book is our gift to all participants of the symposium.