Statistikk innhold
Statistics on
Registered mortality of large carnivores
The statistics show registered mortality of large carnivores in Norway. The figures are given by region and cause. The statistics also comprise the number of hunting licenses and the number of lynx shot under quota hunting and the number of bears, wolverines and wolves shot under license.
Selected figures from these statistics
- Registered mortality of large carnivores. Absolute numberDownload table as ...Registered mortality of large carnivores. Absolute number
2025-2026 Change in number of animals 2024-2025 - 2025-2026 2021-2022 - 2025-2026 Total 237 -19 0 Bear 19 5 6 Wolf 5 -9 -32 Wolverine 102 -26 -7 Lynx 111 11 33 Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Bear, wolf and wolverine shot under licence and quota hunting on lynx, by administration areaDownload table as ...Bear, wolf and wolverine shot under licence and quota hunting on lynx, by administration area1 2
Shot under licence Quota hunting Bear Wolf Wolverine Lynx Licenses issued Felled Licenses issued Felled Licenses issued Felled Licenses issued Felled 2023-2024 11 3 44 18 142 54 68 46 2024-2025 13 2 43 5 138 78 83 78 2025-2026 10 1 27 1 125 59 99 80 Administration area Vest-Agder, Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn and Fjordane 0 0 2 0 8 0 0 0 Buskerud, Vestfold, Telemark, Aust-Agder 0 0 2 0 3 0 27 25 Oppland 4 0 5 0 9 3 10 10 Troms, Finnmark 0 0 3 0 34 12 6 5 Hedmark 6 1 12 1 15 15 3 3 Møre and Romsdal, Trøndelag 0 0 3 0 35 22 31 22 Nordland 0 0 0 0 20 7 22 15 Østfold, Akershus, Oslo 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1The administrations areas of Oslo, Akershus, Østfold and Hedmark have common quota of wolf. The quota is given for the administration area where most animal where shot. 2Since the 2023–2024 hunting season, lynx hunting has been quota-free in the administrative regions of Vest-Agder, Rogaland, Hordaland, and Sogn og Fjordane. Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Registered mortality of large carnivores, by cause. NumberDownload table as ...Registered mortality of large carnivores, by cause. Number
Bear Wolf Wolverine Lynx 2010-2011 10 14 105 157 2011-2012 16 9 112 92 2012-2013 13 8 157 92 2013-2014 5 18 61 78 2014-2015 12 14 96 89 2015-2016 10 14 123 78 2016-2017 8 18 111 62 2017-2018 9 31 84 55 2018-2019 12 28 82 64 2019-2020 15 22 114 70 2020-2021 10 33 111 87 2021-2022 13 37 109 78 2022-2023 14 21 91 63 2023-2024 9 27 100 73 2024-2025 14 14 128 100 2025-2026 19 5 102 111 2025-2026 Animals killed as nuisance 17 4 37 12 Animals felled as self-defence 0 0 0 0 Animals felled illegally 0 0 0 0 Animals killed by vehicle 0 0 1 13 Animals killed by train 1 0 1 2 Animals killed by other causes 0 0 4 4 Animals felled under licence hunting 1 1 59 0 Animals felled under quota hunting 0 0 0 80 Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ...
About the statistics
The information under «About the statistics» was last updated 10 June 2026.
The hunting year
One hunting year runs from 1 April to 31 March the following year.
Large predators
Large predators include bears, wolves, wolverines and lynx.
Large birds of prey
Large birds of prey include white-tailed eagles, goshawks and golden eagles.
Licensed hunting
The authorities grant a licence to shoot large carnivores in cases where it is necessary to reduce the growth of a carnivore stock to avoid them causing damage and prevent the loss of livestock.
Quota hunting
Quota hunting of lynx takes place in February and March. The County Governor determines the hunting quota hunting of lynx. Anyone who meets the requirements can hunt lynx in areas where quota hunting is in effect.
Shot as nuisance
The authorities grant permits to shoot single animals in order to prevent large carnivores killing or causing damage to livestock or domesticated reindeer.
Animals felled as self-defence
Animals that are killed to remove a current and significant risk of injury to a person or when there is an emergency situation due to an ongoing or imminent attack on livestock.
Name: Registered mortality of large carnivores
Topic: Agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing
Division for Housing, Property, Spatial and Agricultural Statistics
County and administration area
The statistics are published annually, 10-12 weeks after the hunting year has ended
Collected and revised data are stored securely by Statistics Norway in compliance with applicable legislation on data processing.
Statistics Norway can grant access to the source data (de-identified or anonymised microdata) on which the statistics are based, for researchers and public authorities for the purposes of preparing statistical results and analyses. Access can be granted upon application and subject to conditions. Refer to the details about this at Access to data from Statistics Norway.
The purpose of the statistics is to provide information on the reduction of large predators and eagles. The act relating to the extermination of predators and protection of other wild game was passed in 1845 and introduced official premium payments for certain species. The persons responsible for making the payments in the individual municipalities submitted reports containing statistics on the predators and nuisance animals for which premiums had been paid. As a rule, this was the local police or chief municipal treasurer. Much has changed since the act was passed in 1845. Today, bears, wolves, wolverines and eagles are protected, and lynx hunting is regulated by quota.
The statistics are compiled for The Norwegian Environment Agency and serve as an important tool in the local and national management of large predators and eagles. Public agencies (ministries, counties, municipalities) and research institutes use the statistics. Other major user groups include professional publications, hunters and animal protection groups.
No external users have access to statistics before they are released at 8 a.m. on ssb.no after at least three months’ advance notice in the release calendar. This is one of the most important principles in Statistics Norway for ensuring the equal treatment of users.
Statistics on Non-harvest mortality of cervids are published annually.
The statistics are developed, produced and disseminated pursuant to Act no. 32 of 21 June 2019 relating to official statistics and Statistics Norway (the Statistics Act).
The statistics cover killed and destroyed game reported to municipal wildlife management departments.
The Norwegian Environment Agency and municipal wildlife management departments.
All municipalities and counties.
The statistics are based on reports of reductions of large predators from the Norwegian Environment Agency, and reports of large birds of prey from municipal wildlife management departments.
Regular controls and revisions are carried out on the incoming material. The forms are checked for absolute and possible errors, and errors are corrected during the revision of the forms. Where necessary, the municipal authorities are contacted to clarify cases of doubt.
The number of killed animals is summarised and distributed by municipality.
Employees of Statistics Norway have a duty of confidentiality.
Statistics Norway does not publish figures if there is a risk of the respondent’s contribution being identified. This means that, as a general rule, figures are not published if fewer than three units form the basis of a cell in a table or if the contribution of one or two respondents constitutes a very large part of the cell total.
Statistics Norway can make exceptions to the general rule if deemed necessary to meet the requirements of the EEA agreement, if the respondent is a public authority, if the respondent has consented to this, or when the information disclosed is openly accessible to the public.
More information can be found on Statistics Norway’s website under Methods in official statistics, in the ‘Confidentiality’ section.
Breaks in the time series have not occurred since the statistics were started in 1846.
As bears, wolves, wolverines and eagles are protected and lynx hunting is regulated by quota, reductions are easy to check. Although these factors mean reliable reporting, unreported reductions can occur. It can be difficult to determine the sex and age of animals that have been dead for a long time before they are found. In such cases the municipal wildlife management department must use its judgement. In general, all reductions should be reported, but for various reasons this is not always done. The data for birds of prey can be viewed as minimum figures.
Reporting to Statistics Norway is compulsory for all municipalities. Statistics Norway and the county management contact all municipalities that have not forwarded the reports within the time limit. In that way all municipalities are covered.