However, it is difficult to determine whether there is actually more disease or whether it is more about increased attention, better diagnostics and communication.
This is revealed in a new report. The purpose of the monitoring is to obtain systematic and up-to-date data on the state of health of Norwegian game populations.
The main focus has been on deer game and musk. Hjortvilt is a collective name for elk, deer, wild reindeer, roe deer and fallow deer.
– Perhaps the truth is that the experience of more illness is due to a combination of several factors together with a certain increase. At the same time, it is the case that some factors that influence the occurrence of disease have developed in the “wrong” direction, says researcher in wildlife health at the Veterinary Institute, Jørn Våge.
He says that it seems likely that a warmer, more humid and more unpredictable climate could increase the risk of disease in Norwegian game.
The same is the case for denser and more divided populations with less opportunity for seasonal migrations. Increased contact between domestic animals, humans and game, and increased contact across national borders may also have contributed to more disease.
Not a surprising finding
According to the report for 2023, the occurrence of warts in deer is increasing. In January 2023, it was confirmed that an elk felled in Stor-Elvdal municipality in November 2022 was infected by the dog’s pygmy ringworm, Echinococcus canadensis G10.
At a game slaughterhouse, fluid-filled parasite cysts were detected in the animal’s lungs. Parts of the lungs were sent to the Veterinary Institute for examination. They confirmed infection with the parasite. The detection was the first in moose in Norway.
– This is not surprising since it is known that the parasite circulates between wolves and deer in our neighboring countries, says Malin R. Reiten.
She is a researcher in wildlife health at the Veterinary Institute. Reiten also says that the findings emphasize how important it is to properly handle slaughter waste from hunting.
Hunters should prevent dogs from getting access to raw offal.
Over a long period of time, the health monitoring program has received messages of concern about the moose population from various parts of the southernmost counties in Norway. The reports have been that few moose are seen and that few calves are observed. Furthermore, they say that slaughter weights are low and that many dead animals are found.
In 2023, similar messages also came from Østfold and from Fosen in Trøndelag.
– Through 2023, the Veterinary Institute has performed autopsies on calf carcasses. The reason why the calves have been sick or have been found dead has varied. The common denominator between them is that they have been completely emaciated, says researcher Bjørnar Ytrehus at the Veterinary Institute.
Map of hare plague
In the autumn of 2023, there was a great deal of focus on hare plague after several cases in Eastern Norway during a short period of time in late summer. To make information about hare plague available, a map solution was therefore developed on the Veterinary Institute’s website.
Reference:
Malin Rokseth Reiten et al.: The health monitoring program for game (ViltHOP) in 2023 (PDF). Report from the Veterinary Institute2024.
About the project
The Veterinary Institute is leading the work on the ViltHOP project. There they collaborate, among other things, with researchers from the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA) and other national and international scientific institutions that have special expertise in current issues.
Other important collaboration partners are the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Norwegian Environment Agency (SNO), private practicing veterinarians, regional and municipal wildlife management, wildlife inspection, landowners and hunters.
The program is financed by the Norwegian Environment Agency.
