Licensed hunting of bears begins on 21 August and covers a total of 394 animals, equal to 14 percent of the population. The decisions have drawn strong criticism from several organisations.
The latest inventory from 2022 shows that about 2 800 bears exist in Sweden. The hunt takes place in the seven northernmost counties. The county board in Dalarna recently decided on a quota of 50 bears, of which at most 27 females, compared with 75 last year.
In Norrbotten the quota rises to 46 bears from 24 the previous year. Västerbotten keeps its quota at 100 bears, with the goal of reducing the population from just over 500 to 350.
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation believes the harvest is too high given that the species is strictly protected under the EU Habitats Directive. The Swedish Carnivore Association plans to appeal all decisions to have them reviewed in court.