Hunters say bear monitoring undercounts population

Estonia’s current large carnivore monitoring does not reflect the actual bear population, making it difficult to set hunting quotas that meet ecological needs, Marko Vinni, hunting adviser to the Estonian Hunters’ Society, told ERR programme Vikerhommik.

Hunters believe Estonia has around 1,500 bears, while the Environment Agency estimates that the population has remained at about 1,000 in recent years. Vinni said he could not explain why the agency’s calculations continued to produce a lower figure.

Data from the Environment Agency are also used in court proceedings and by organisations defending large carnivores.

Vinni said traditional bear hunting was currently not possible in Estonia because a bear must first become a so-called nuisance individual for a hunting permit to be issued.

According to the Environment Agency’s recommendations, hunters should kill about 100 bears, but only four permits have so far been issued. Vinni said the first special hunting permits were issued two weeks ago, but no hunting had taken place.

He said decisions on large carnivore hunting could not be based solely on population figures and monitoring. They must also comply with European Union directives and the Bern Convention, which regulates wildlife protection.

Vinni said Estonia had failed to seek an exception in 1992 concerning the management of large carnivores, particularly population levels. He said hunting is now being aligned with or justified under those regulations.

The Estonian Hunters’ Society has convened a round table to promote more DNA research on large carnivores. The aim is to gain a better understanding of their population size and genetic diversity.

The hunters are also discussing the issue with the Large Carnivores non-profit association, which is seeking, among other things, stricter regulation of bear hunting. Vinni said reaching a compromise with the organisation would be difficult.

He said hunters viewed their role as fulfilling a public expectation and helping preserve ecological balance, arguing that allowing a population to grow unchecked could ultimately be harmful to the population itself.

Source: ERR’s Vikerhommik, interviewed by Margit Kilumets and Sten Teppan.