Besides the wealth of fish in the sea, the rivers and the lakes, it is nonetheless the abundance of animal life that has made life in Norway possible through the ages. Moose, elk, and deer wandering in the woods have been easy prey for hunters, particularly in deep snow. Though the hare is a smaller animal, it too was valuable food. Reindeer were easy to spot on the open plateaus. Several herds of musk oxen also wander in the mountains.
Bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine are also part of this fauna but are
Moose
protected by law. In contrast to the fox, which is hunted everywhere. There are beavers and otter in some of the watercourses, while salmon, trout, char, eel, pike, perch, white fish, carp and herring are good eating fish found in the rivers and lakes.
Bear w/cub
The sea and the fjords also have been an endless source of food. Cod, whiting, herring, mackerel, haddock, wolf fish and flounder are among the most important. There is also crab, lobster, shrimp clams and muscles. Seals and Orcas are observed offshore Lofoten regularly.
About 240 different species of birds nest in Norway. Some stay all year and
Orca
others migrate south in the fall. The most visible bird life in our country is probably the immense numbers of sea birds that nest in the cliffs along the coasts.
The bird rocks in North Norway are particularly impressive, though some of
the stocks have showed serious decline during the last years. Especially the islands of Værøy and Røst are renowned for their bird colonies and bird rocks.
Hundreds of thousands of puffins and other sea birds can be heard and seen here.
Reindeer
Reindeer, polar foxes, polar hare, wolves,
wolverines, and lemmings are common in the north and in the higher mountain areas. Elk, deer, foxes, otters, and marten are found in the south and southeast.
Lynx
Both freshwater and saltwater fishes abound. Salmon, trout, grayling, perch, and pike are common in the streams and lakes. Herring, cod, halibut, mackerel, and other species inhabit coastal waters.
Norwegians and wildlife...
I thought a lot back and forth whether to take up a discussion on our polices on the predators naturally belonging in Norway... and the way the sheep farmers act according to the fact that it actually are naturally belonging predators in their area. I do have strong views of the way we treat our bears, wolves and lynx's - opinions/views based on the fact that they are a natural resource that should be allowed to live their lives as they're supposed to by order of nature.
Some very weird and unnatural, at least to the animals involved, policies are carried out, and I strongly oppose to it. As I want my own little corner of cyber space to be a nice and friendly one, I've decided not to elaborate on the subject - at least not now. I therefore end the page of wildlife in Norway with my favorite photograph of a wild animal - an animal full of strength, life and far from our way of viewing our surroundings
