Where: All of Sweden
When: All seasons
What: Wildlife encounters
Encountering wildlife is an amazing experience, but it can also be potentially dangerous with some animals or in certain situations. Here’s what to do when you're face to face with wildlife.
In Sweden, we regularly see animals in the forest, fields, on the road, and even in urban areas. Be especially cautious around dusk if you're driving. We’ve often encountered deer, wild boar, or moose on the road. It's exciting but also startling, and it’s a relief to be safe inside a car. Sweden is home to various wild animals, including deer, moose, wild boar, snakes, lynxes, wolves, and bears. Fortunately, most animals here are very shy, and attacks are rare. However, you can surprise each other, especially if there are young ones involved. Let’s look at what to do in such a situation.
BROWN BEAR (BJÖRN)
There are about 2,900 brown bears in Sweden, mainly in the northern and central parts. Bears are generally shy and avoid confrontations with people. If you do encounter a bear, it’s probably a young one that's curious. Fortunately, bear attacks on humans are very very rare in Sweden. Want to photograph bears? You can do so safely from a hide with Wild Sweden. Find a link at the end of this post.
What to do if you meet a bear:
Stay calm and move away slowly without turning your back on the bear.
Make yourself look big and speak softly to let the bear know you're human.
Don’t use food as a distraction and avoid sudden movements.
Don’t run; a bear can run up to 40 km/h and will catch you easily.
Don’t climb a tree; bears are much better climbers than we are.
If you see a bear cub, the mother is likely nearby, so be cautious.
If the bear hasn’t noticed you, calmly walk back the way you came, preferably upwind so it can smell you.
If you are attacked:
Throw something to distract the bear; if that doesn’t work, lie in a fetal position with your hands around your neck and your chin tucked to protect yourself. Play dead. Do not scream; you are safer if you remain still.
WILD BOAR (VILDSVIN)
There are an estimated 300,000 wild boars in Sweden, mostly in the southern and central parts. Wild boars have poor eyesight but excellent smell and will usually run away if they sense you. However, a wild boar encounter can be dangerous, especially if there are young ones around. We’ve only encountered wild boars at night on or near the road. It's always quite impressive to see such a big, ugly animal up close, haha.
What to do if you meet a wild boar:
Stay calm and slowly back away.
Because it can't see you very well, the wild boar might get closer to smell if you are dangerous.
Don’t approach or threaten the boar, especially if there are young ones.
If the boar shows aggressive behavior, find a high spot or climb a sturdy tree.
MOOSE (ÄLG)
Sweden has about 300,000 moose. They are the largest land mammals here, standing about 2 meters tall at the shoulder. They are impressive animals but not as commonly seen as deer. Moose are often shy and hide well in dense forests. They are most active at dusk. We’ve seen quite a few moose, but only from the car. Sometimes one suddenly crosses the road in a wooded area or stands by the roadside or in a field. Moose can be found all over Sweden, more in some areas than others.
What to do if you meet a moose:
Keep your distance and never approach a moose, especially if it has calves.
If a moose shows aggressive behavior (like flattening its ears), calmly retreat.
WOLF (VARG)
Sweden has about 400 wolves, mainly in the central and northern parts. I haven’t encountered a wolf myself. Wolves here are shy, and attacks are rare. With Wild Sweden, you can join a wolf tracking tour and spend a night in a hammock in wolf territory. It sounds amazing to me and is high on my bucket list. A link is at the end of this post.
What to do if you meet a wolf:
Stay calm and make noise to scare the wolf away.
Don’t look the wolf in the eyes or turn your back.
Calmly retreat without making sudden movements, and don’t run.
If the wolf follows you, make yourself look as big and threatening as possible.
If you are attacked:
If you or your dog are attacked, hit and kick the wolf, aiming for the neck and eyes. (Attacks on leashed dogs are very rare.)
If you face a pack of wolves, climb a tree and wait until they leave.
LYNX (LODJUR)
There are about 1,400 lynxes in Sweden, mostly in forested areas. Lynxes are even shyer than wolves. I’ve seen a few photos on Instagram, taken by photographers who were birdwatching early in the morning from a photo hide and happened to spot a lynx. There are no reports of lynx attacks on humans. In the highly unlikely event of an encounter with a lynx, you can respond in the same way as with a wolf.
ADDER (HUGGORM)
Much smaller but still potentially dangerous is the adder. Adders are venomous and widespread in Sweden, but the colder provinces above the Arctic Circle are less attractive habitats for adders. You can see them in spring and summer, usually warming up in the sun. Adders hibernate, so the chance of encountering one is very low the rest of the year. About 300 adder bites are reported annually in Sweden, often due to someone accidentally stepping on one or grabbing a bush where an adder was resting. Be alert in the warmer months and wear sturdy shoes when walking in tall grass or bushes. Pay extra attention to children and dogs; a bite is more dangerous for them. I wrote a blog post about snakes in Sweden, so if you'd like more information, click the link below.
What to do if you meet an adder:
Wait calmly at a distance and give the snake a chance to slither away.
Don't touch or pick up the snake.
If bitten, seek medical help immediately.
GENERAL TIPS
Keep your dog on a leash to avoid provoking animals.
Store food in sealed containers and don’t leave leftovers.
Stay on paths and make noise while walking. Animals often avoid busy trails.
Watch where you step.
Don’t let this discourage you from exploring the amazing Swedish nature. As mentioned, attacks are very rare, and animals almost always run away if they see you. Personally, I think it’s super exciting that there is so much wildlife here; it adds a bit of a thrill to your hike.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Wild Sweden Bear Watching and Photography:
Wild Sweden Wolf Experience:
My blogpost about snakes in Sweden:
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency for more data on wildlife populations and behavior in Sweden:
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