While I was trying to figure out what my first topic should be I came across a bunch of pictures of animals, and I figured that this would be a good place to start. Everyone likes animals, well I hope they do. Here you go, here are some of the animals that populate Norway. I'll list all my sources at the end.
One animal that they have in Norway is the Brown Bear. Around 150 years ago there were close to 3,000 brown bears in Norway. However, they were over-hunted in the 20th century. In 2014 the brown bear count was at 136. They want a total of six litters to be born each year so they can repopulate the country, but it isn't working too well.
Another critter is the European Red Squirrel. Apparently they're somehow different from all other red squirrels, but I just think that Europe wanted them to be different. They are however, probably a different species as well. They are very much like other squirrels. Something that I really like about it is that when it gets angry it waves its tail back and forth like a flag.
One of my favorites is the Norway Rat. It is also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, brown Norway rat, Norwegian rat, wharf rat, and most commonly the brown rat. It is the most common type of rat, it is also the best known, and is not just found in Norway. It was named the Norway rat when it traveled to England on Norwegian ships, even though there were none of these rats in Norway at that time. They later figured out that it came from Ireland, and that is why it is most commonly referred to as the Brown Rat.
What is commonly known as a moose in Northern America, in Norway is called a Norwegian Elg and a European Elk in Europe. It is still a moose. Try not to confuse yourself, I know I did. They are the largest member of the deer family. Their diet consists of mostly plants, and in the wild they can live from 15 to 20 years. They can grow up to 6 and 1/2 feet tall, and can weigh up to 1,800 pounds. Also, a fun fact, the flap that you see hanging from their neck is called a bell.
The Lynx is another inhabitant of this beautiful country. In fact, they are the only wild cat species in Norway. They mainly eat deer, but also eat reindeer, birds, foxes, and other small animals. They prefer fresh meat, and if they are left alone they will continue to eat it until the carcass is mostly clean. Most of their litters are born between May and June, and they contain between 1 and 4 cubs.
Another species in Norway is the Mountain Hare. They are a relatively large species of hare. In the summer their coat turns brown to help them camouflage, and in the winter they turn white. However, their tail remains completely white all year log. Their diet has been shown to vary from region to region. They live at elevations of 700 feet to 3,800 feet.
The Red Deer is a popular deer species in Norway. Their meat (venison) is used as a food source. As with all deer, the males are called stag or hart, and the females are called doe or hind. It is the fourth largest deer species. They also have an even number of toes on each hoof. The males have manes on their necks and the females do not.
The Reindeer has been known to go along with Santa Claus and other fictional winter stories, but they really do exist. They just prefer colder climates. In fact, there are several Norwegian recipes that include reindeer meat, because the Norwegian people think of them like we think of cows.
Next on my list is the Roe Deer. Their population is greatly affected by the weather and by predators. Therefore, their population varies more than any other species of deer in Norway. Their habitats are also decreasing, which doesn't help their population issue.
Arctic Foxes are my favorite type of fox. They live in the NorthEast parts of Norway. They build their dens in the snow, and change the color of their fur from white in the winter and black or brown in the summer. They have high pitched barks, but they do not howl, and they have great hearing, so they can find their prey underneath all the snow.
Wolves in Norway are known to be a critically endangered species. They are typically found in packs of up to 15 wolves. The wolf population started growing in the 1990's, but then their numbers dropped back down again, due to hunting and deforestation. Wolves later became illegal to hunt in 1971. In 2014 tracking programs showed that there were only 2 packs with their territories completely within Norway, and a total of 49 packs in all of Scandinavia. (Wolves fascinate me so I might do another blog post on them later.)
The Adder is a very poisonous type of snake. Like some other species, the female grows to be larger than the male. They have very distinctive grey zig-zag patterns that run the whole length of their light brown body. They are very elusive snakes. If bitten by an Adder, you should get medical attention as soon as possible, because they are very dangerous. Most bites that have been reported in humans have occurred when the victim is trying to pick up the snake.
I got all of my information at the links below. Check them out for more info. As always, thanks for reading and I hope you liked it. Please feel free to comment below.
Brown Bears
European Red Squirrels
Norway Rat
Norwegian Elg
Lynx
Mountain Hare
Red Deer
Reindeer
Roe Deer
Arctic Foxes
Wolves
Adders
Brown Bears
European Red Squirrels
Norway Rat
Norwegian Elg
Lynx
Mountain Hare
Red Deer
Reindeer
Roe Deer
Arctic Foxes
Wolves
Adders