Woodpecker pairs may be hunted after costly injuries

Two woodpeckers outside Skellefteå are said to have caused damage to a residential building worth around SEK 50,000. Now the county administrative board grants protection hunting for the two woodpeckers, even though the greater woodpecker species is protected, reports P4 Västerbotten.

The property owner has tried to chase the birds away, to no avail, and despite previous protection hunting of a woodpecker, the damage has not stopped.

Now the county administrative board makes an exception and allows the hunting of two woodpeckers.

Greater woodpeckers are protected, but the population is increasing and is assessed by SLU (Swedish Agricultural University) as viable.