Bear observed on sheep pasture in Nordland – municipality seeks to hunt it

A farmer in Vefsn, Norway, has brought their sheep home from summer pasture after a bear attack. The municipality has been denied permission to hunt the bear but intends to pursue the matter further.

The bear was captured on a wildlife camera in Vikdalen on Sunday morning, in the same area where it attacked sheep in early July. This sighting confirms the animal remains in the vicinity, according to Hans Gunnar Otervik, the agricultural manager for Vefsn municipality.

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The bear was filmed this morning at half past six, exactly where it took sheep first in July. It shows that it is still in the area.

Following the attack, sheep at Holmen farm in Eitrådalen were brought back after only two and a half weeks on the mountain pasture. The municipality's urgent request for a "damage hunt" to cull the bear was immediately rejected. However, they plan to resubmit the request on Monday.

"The rejection was immediate, but we must follow up the case with a new inquiry tomorrow. We now have more people in the field to document the losses. This is a situation we must do something about," Otervik stated. He dismissed concerns that the bear poses a danger to hikers.

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The rejection was immediate, but we must follow up the case with a new inquiry tomorrow. We now have more people in the field to document the losses. This is a situation we must do something about.