Norwegian Authorities Charge Ten Men in Illegal Wolf and Lynx Hunting Case
An indictment has been issued against ten men from Innlandet, Norway, accused of illegally hunting wolves and attempting to hunt lynx in the Eidskog region, raising concerns about the future of endangered predator species.
Norwegian authorities have brought charges against ten men following an examination into the illegal hunting of wolves and attempted hunting of lynx in January 2025. The case, described as a serious environmental crime by Økokrim – Norway’s specialist agency for investigating and prosecuting environmental offenses – centers around an organized hunt targeting vulnerable wildlife.
The initial charges were filed in January 2025 against six individuals, but have since expanded to include ten men with local ties to the Innlandet region. According to a statement released in May 2025, the prosecution alleges the men collaborated to track and kill a pair of wolves, a male felled on January 6th and a female the following day. Three of the accused also face charges related to attempting to kill a lynx during the same period.
“The illegal hunting for wich charges have been brought is a serious environmental crime,” stated Hans Tore Høviskeland, the first public prosecutor and head of Økokrim environmental crime. “It affects natural diversity and becomes all the more serious when it is organized as in this case.” Høviskeland emphasized the prioritization of environmental crime investigations, signaling a firm stance against poaching and wildlife offenses.
The investigation revealed the alleged hunters employed tactics such as using game cameras and tracking to monitor the wolves’ movements over a week-long period before the hunt. During a raid on January 10th, authorities seized over 100 weapons from the defendants, with some found to be illegal or improperly stored.
The legal ramifications for the accused are important. Under Norway’s Penal Code § 240,serious environmental crimes – including those that reduce populations of threatened species – can carry a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment.Økokrim is seeking to revoke the men’s hunting rights and confiscate all weapons and equipment used in the alleged offenses.
Though, the case is not without its complexities.While six of the defendants have pleaded not guilty, the legal teams representing the accused are raising questions about the species of the animals killed. “My client does not understand the indictment. he believes he has not done anything punishable or participated in illegal hunting,” said Pål Skarnes Jensen,representing one of the accused.
A central point of contention revolves around whether the animals felled were, in fact, wolves or hybrids – a mix between a wolf and a dog. Jostein Løken, a lawyer representing one of the defendants, argued, “What I am going to problematize is whether these animals are to be considered wolves, or whether they are simply hybrids… And dogs are not protected under the Natural Diversity Act.” Løken suggested that hunting hybrids, even if mistaken for pure wolves, should not be considered a crime, especially if it could aid in the preservation of the Scandinavian wolf population. Several other defense attorneys echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for definitive DNA analysis.
Økokrim maintains it has secured sufficient evidence, including biological material such as blood, to prove the illegal killing of a wolf, even without recovering the carcass of the second animal. The agency utilized telemonitoring of the defendants as part of its investigation, according to Høviskeland.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing wildlife conservation with hunting traditions in Norway. Illegal hunting poses a significant threat to large predators like wolves and lynx, which are already facing population pressures. The outcome of this case will likely set a precedent for future environmental crime prosecutions and influence the debate surrounding predator management in the region.
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The trial is expected to delve deeper into the question of species identification and the legality of the weapons seized. As of January 2025, five of the accused had been released pending trial, and the investigation was nearing completion.
