Cry Wolf!: Narratives of Wolf Recovery in France and Norway*

Abstract

Due to strict protection through the last decades, wolves have returned to many areas from which they have been absent for a long time. This is a conservation success story, but the wolves also cause conflicts wherever they arrive. We have studied the situation in southeastern Norway and in the French Alps, where the conflict patterns are similar. Diverging interpretations of the situation are supported by narratives, and two varieties have become increasingly significant in both countries. Rumors about the secret reintroduction of wolves are common among wolf adversaries. Another narrative, important to the pro‐wolf camp, is based on the notion that particular sheep husbandry practices (unattended rough grazing) are unique to either Norway or France—whereas there are in fact more similarities than differences. Yet, while the reintroduction‐conspiracy rumors are ridiculed, the notion of unique national conflict patterns has achieved a status almost of official truth. Furthermore, the story about natural wolf recovery is itself a value‐laden narrative, and not only “scientific fact.” The different status of these narratives tell us something about power relations: Given their different social basis, it seems relevant to consider the national uniqueness image and the natural recovery theory as tightly interwoven with symbolic power and the reintroduction conspiracy rumors as similarly interwoven with patterns of cultural resistance.

The good bad wolf—wolf evaluation reveals the roots of the Finnish wolf conflict

“…The species that was nearly eliminated through hunting has become strictly protected by law. The question of hunting remains at the core of the modern wolf conflict not only in Finland but also in Scandinavia (Bisi et al 2007;Skogen et al 2008). In modern Finnish hunting culture, the use of dogs is an essential component, and the presence of wolves either threatens or prevents the use of dogs.…”

“…These conflicts share certain characteristics, usually with the return and growth of the wolf population eliciting demands to reduce the population and its growth. Such a discussion has been common in Finland and Scandinavia, the United States and several European countries (Fritts et al 2003;Skogen and Krange 2003;Skogen et al 2008;Ericsson et al 2004;Bisi et al 2007). Demands to slow the growth of the wolf population have led to a discussion over acceptable methods to achieve this purpose.…”

“…We may rightly assume that an ecologically competitive situation has existed between humans and wolves in the past and that the reactions of present-day hunters have raised an analogous scenario. In areas to which the wolf has returned, discussion has even included such concepts as the quality of life (Bisi and Kurki 2008;Skogen et al 2008). This point of view is connected to both locally developed and tradition-experienced ways of using nature, and the wolf is considered a threat to them.…”

Social-Natural Landscape Reorganised: Swedish Forest-edge Farmers and Wolf Recovery

“…Local networks and mobilisation campaigns have taken place among individuals who perceive themselves and their way of life to be threatened by the presence of wolves in their local environments. As has been demonstrated elsewhere, environmental conservation efforts reflect intentions that highlight the underlying assumptions and values of how the world ought to be (Ratamäki 2008;Skogen et al 2008). Pertaining to this defence of the 'locals' are questions about access to and control of the environments of local communities (cf.…”

“…Although pro-wolf groups promote fauna diversity, other interest groups maintain that other 'heritage' values-not just those of the predator biodiversity-must be increasingly recognised in the discourse on environmental conservation (cf. Ratamäki 2008;Skogen et al 2008). Thus, while the research community, authorities and conservationists related to biological predators perceive that the wolf population is threatened due to poor pedigree (as it was founded by only three individuals, the genetic base is believed to be too narrow) and illegal killings (corresponding to about 15 percent of the annual mortality rate between 1999 and 2006) (Liberg et al2005(Liberg et al , 2008Sand et al 2004), 3 other parties demand that the policy be changed.…”