| Summary: | In total, 36 litters were recorded in Scandinavia during the summer 2007 of which 0 in Finland, 24 inSweden and 15 in Norway. In 2001 and 2004, when the small rodent cycle was in the same increasephase as this year, we had 9 and 28 litters recorded in Scandinavia, respectively, which means thatthe population has increased strongly during the last six years. However, the population increase hasnot been similar all over Scandinavia. In the southern mountain areas, Helagsfjällen and Borgafjäll,the actions of feeding and red fox removal have been very efficient. The number of litters in theseareas has doubled between each rodent increase year. The Norwegian part of Børgefjell has acted asa control area where no actions have been implemented. There, the number of litters has remainedconstant in increase years during the project period 2001-2007. In the northern mountain areas,Vindelfjällen and areas in Norrbotten, we have not managed to keep a high intensity of actions. Thenumber of litters in these areas has been stable. The reasons for the large variation in extent ofimplemented actions between the mountain areas are mainly logistical problems due to the extent ofthe geographical areas concerned in combination with harsh winter climate. In the northern areas,due to the geographical distances, field workers would have to stay in the field for several days inorder to perform field actions which can be achieved in a single day in the southern mountain areas.
|
|---|