The Swedish government issued an unprecedented 486 licenses for bear hunting, a move that targets about 20% of the remaining bear population and follows last year’s record-breaking cull of 722 bears.

As the hunt commenced on August 21, over 150 bears had been killed within the first two days, raising concerns about the sustainability of such aggressive population control measures. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s numbers have conservationists calling this practice “pure slaughter,” citing the efficiency of modern hunting methods that leave little chance for bear populations to sustainably recover.

In Europe, brown bears are designated as a “strictly protected species.” Critics argue that Sweden’s aggressive hunting quotas might violate the EU habitat directive, which generally prohibits such hunting unless it is deemed absolutely necessary for public safety or environmental preservation.

Historically, Sweden’s brown bears were nearly wiped out; however, conservation efforts had helped their numbers rebound to about 3,300 by 2008. Recent culls, however, have reduced their numbers by 40%, and continued culling at this rate could threaten the species’ viability, potentially reducing their numbers to a critical threshold set by the government.

Additionally, the past two years have seen significant culls involving wolves, lynxes, and bears in Sweden, with records being set for the number of predators killed. The largest wolf cull recently targeted 75 wolves from a vulnerable population of just 460.

Ecologists warn that ongoing culls might have broader ecological consequences, affecting biodiversity across the region.

Conservationists emphasize the critical ecological role of the brown bear in Sweden as a key predator that helps regulate prey populations and behaviors. Their diet includes ants, berries, and other vegetation, contributing significantly to the ecosystem by aiding in seed dispersal. Jonas Kindberg, head of the Scandinavian Bear Project, stresses the unsustainable nature of current hunting rates, noting that brown bears mature slowly and reproduce infrequently, which complicates population recovery. Experts are also concerned about the potential long-term impact on the gender balance among bears due to the hunting practices

Hunting advocates, like those from the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management, defend the cull as part of Sweden’s cultural heritage and argue for its necessity in keeping rural areas habitable. However, the method of using bait, cameras, and dogs—which was previously illegal—has been criticized for being inhumane and for the potential stress it causes to the animals.

The hunt has become a focal point for protests, with police now accompanying hunters through forests—both on foot and using drones—to ensure the hunt proceeds without interference. This heightened security is a testament to the growing dissent and the controversial nature of the cull, which some argue breaches the EU habitat directive’s strict protections for strictly protected species..

The controversy in Sweden reflects a larger European dilemma where countries like Romania and Germany are also grappling with how to manage large carnivore populations against a backdrop of increasing animal protections. Romania announced a cull of nearly 500 brown bears, despite their protected status. The debate is intensifying as countries like Norway express concerns over cross-border wildlife impacts, urging Sweden to reconsider its aggressive cull policies.