The 1st of January we had about 20 wolves in our region. The wolves belonged to four groups all together. Two groups had only two individuals, one the so called Imsdalscouple, the other, the Gråfjellcouple. The two family groups were situated in Atnadalen had 8 members, the group in Rendalen also had 8 members. This region is about 150 kms long. From Rena in south to Alvdal in north. From east to west this region is the Glomma and Rena valleys.
The Norwegian government decided that if we in Norway had more than 10 groups or families of wolves it was possible to start hunting for wolves outside the area they had decided as a base area for them. This area is south of Åmot municipality.
Three of the groups had their area north of this area. In this area most farmers rely on life stock, manly sheep. Many of the framers also have income from moose- and deer hunting.
During the last years the numbers of sheep killed by wolves have increased, also wolves have killed a large number of moose and deer. In many areas where you earlier could hunt for 4-5 mooses, last year you could only hunt for one animal.
This is why the government decided to cut down the numbers of wolves outside the area they had decided to be a “wolf area”.
Two of the three groups should be hunted down. That meant a couple in Imsdalen and the group of 8 in Atnadalen.