The Swedish bear population is larger than it has been in several hundred years. And the bear is no longer an endangered species.
The most recent calculation for the entire country, made in 2017, shows that there were around 2,900 bears at the time. It is the counties that decide how many will be allowed to be shot, but the inventory of the bear stock has lagged behind and today it is considered that there are too many bears in relation to people, livestock and reindeer husbandry
622 bears will be shot in the area from Värmland to Norrbotten, which is more than doubling compared to 2019. For the hunters, a golden opportunity to relive the excitement from last year, just like Mats Helgesson.
Hear Mats talk about the thrill of bear hunting in the player above