Norway is a nation defined by its rugged wilderness, where the line between civilization and nature is often blurred. From the dense spruce forests of Hedmark to the jagged peaks of Troms, wildlife is an integral part of the national identity. But who ensures that the balance between human activity and animal populations is maintained? Enter the Viltnemnda (Wildlife Board).
In every municipality across Norway, the Viltnemnda plays a critical role in local management, hunting regulation, and emergency response for injured animals. Whether you are a hunter looking for quota information, a driver who has unfortunately collided with a moose, or a homeowner dealing with an intrusive badger, the Viltnemnda is the authority you rely on. This article offers a comprehensive deep-dive into the functions, legal authority, and daily operations of these essential committees, providing you with the knowledge needed to navigate Norway’s wildlife regulations effectively.
What is the Viltnemnda? Defining the Role
The Viltnemnda is a municipally appointed committee responsible for the management of harvestable wildlife resources within a specific local area. While the name literally translates to “Wildlife Board” or “Game Committee,” its function is a blend of administrative governance and practical fieldwork. Historically, every municipality had a dedicated Viltnemnda, though recent administrative reforms have seen some of these specific boards merged into broader committees for planning and environment.
Regardless of the specific bureaucratic structure, the function of the Viltnemnda remains vital. They act as the local arm of the Norwegian wildlife management system, translating national laws from the Storting and the Environment Agency into local action. Their primary goal is to manage game populations sustainably while minimizing conflict with agriculture, forestry, and traffic.
- Core Mandate: Sustainable harvesting and conflict reduction.
- Jurisdiction: Municipal level (Kommune).
- Key Partners: Landowners, hunters, and local police.
The Legal Framework: The Norwegian Wildlife Act
The authority of the Viltnemnda is grounded in Viltloven (The Wildlife Act) of 1981. This piece of legislation establishes the principle that all wildlife in Norway is protected unless specifically stated otherwise. The Viltnemnda is tasked with administering the exceptions to this protection primarily hunting and trapping.
Under the Wildlife Act, the municipality (via the Viltnemnda) has the power to determine local hunting quotas and approve hunting areas (vald). They ensure that land use planning considers wildlife corridors and habitats. When a decision is made by the Viltnemnda, it carries legal weight, meaning that violating their regulations regarding hunting times or quotas is a punishable offense.
Key Responsibilities in Wildlife Management
The day-to-day duties of the Viltnemnda are diverse. They are not just about issuing permits; they are active managers of the ecosystem. One of their primary tasks is the approval of “vald” specific areas of land designated for hunting. They assess whether an area is large and cohesive enough to support the hunting of moose, red deer, or roe deer.
Furthermore, the Viltnemnda collects “sett elg” (seen moose) data and harvest statistics. This biological data is crucial for determining future quotas. If the moose population is growing too large and causing forest damage or traffic accidents, the Viltnemnda will increase the hunting quota for the following year.
Handling Fallvilt: The Operational Arm
One of the most visible roles associated with the Viltnemnda is the handling of fallvilt game that is injured, sick, or killed outside of lawful hunting. This often involves animals hit by cars or trains. While the Viltnemnda is the administrative body, the actual execution is often performed by a dedicated fallviltgruppe (fallvilt squad) or contracted hunters.
When an animal is reported injured, the Viltnemnda’s personnel are dispatched to track and, if necessary, humanely euthanize the animal to end its suffering. This is a public service provided free of charge to the reporter, funded by the municipality.
- Fallvilt: Includes roadkill, sick animals, and illegal kills.
- Response: 24/7 availability in most municipalities.
- Objective: Animal welfare and public safety.
Traffic Collisions: The 02800 Procedure
If you are driving in Norway and hit a wild animal, you are legally obligated to report it. The correct procedure is to call the police at 02800. The police will then notify the local Viltnemnda or fallvilt group. You should never try to handle an injured moose or deer yourself, as they can be extremely dangerous.
The Viltnemnda relies on drivers to mark the spot of the collision clearly (often with a yellow vest or a plastic bag tied to a marker stick). This allows the tracking dog and handler to find the scent trail quickly, even if the animal has run into the woods.
Hunting Licensing and Regulation
For the thousands of hunters in Norway, the Viltnemnda is the local regulator. While the state requires a hunting license fee (jegeravgift), the local permission to hunt belongs to the landowner, regulated by the Viltnemnda. The board decides the “minsteareal” (minimum acreage) required to shoot one animal.
For example, if the Viltnemnda sets a minimum area of 500 acres per moose, a hunting team with 1,500 acres will be issued a quota of three moose. This system ensures that hunting pressure is distributed evenly and sustainable populations are maintained.
The Role in Moose and Deer Management
Norway has high populations of Moose (Elg), Red Deer (Hjort), and Roe Deer (Rådyr). Managing these ungulates is the Viltnemnda’s biggest task. Overpopulation leads to heavy grazing damage on commercial forests and high rates of traffic collisions.
The Viltnemnda drafts “bestandsplaner” (population plans) that span several years. These plans aim to balance the age and gender structure of the herd for instance, deciding to shoot more calves or young bulls to save productive females. This requires deep local knowledge and cooperation with landowner associations.
Viltnemnda vs. Mattilsynet: Who Does What?
It is common to confuse the roles of the Viltnemnda and Mattilsynet (The Norwegian Food Safety Authority). A simple rule of thumb: Viltnemnda manages free-roaming wildlife. Mattilsynet manages animal health, welfare for pets/livestock, and food safety.
However, lines cross when wildlife is sick. If a moose is found dead with no obvious trauma, or if “Wasting Disease” (CWD) is suspected, the Viltnemnda will secure the carcass, but Mattilsynet acts as the pathology expert, ordering tests and handling biosecurity.
How Members are Appointed
The members of a Viltnemnda are usually politically appointed by the municipal council (Kommunestyre). They sit for a term of four years, following the election cycle. Ideally, the committee is composed of people with diverse backgrounds forestry, agriculture, hunting organizations, and environmental protection groups.
This diversity is intended to prevent bias. A board made up entirely of timber owners might want to shoot too many moose to save trees, while a board of hunters might want to save too many moose for sport. The Viltnemnda must find the middle ground.
Collaboration with Police and Emergency Services
The relationship between the Viltnemnda and the police is symbiotic. The police have the authority to order the dispatch of an injured animal in an emergency (e.g., a moose running through a city center), but they rarely have the equipment or expertise to do it safely.
Therefore, the Viltnemnda serves as the tactical resource for the police in wildlife matters. They possess the approved search dogs (ettersøkshunder) and the high-powered rifles necessary for humane dispatch, operating under police authorization during traffic incidents.
Public Interaction and Reporting
Citizens often interact with the Viltnemnda when they encounter “problem wildlife.” This could be a badger digging under a garage or a fox with scabies visible in a garden. The Viltnemnda provides advice and, in severe cases, may authorize the removal of the animal.
However, the Viltnemnda generally promotes coexistence. They will rarely come to remove a healthy animal just because it is a nuisance. Their mandate is focused on population health and acute injury, not pest control for private properties.
Predator Management Challenges
While the Viltnemnda manages herbivores like moose and deer, large predators (wolves, bears, wolverines, lynx) are managed by regional Rovviltnemnda (Predator Boards) appointed by the state. This distinction is crucial and often a source of local frustration.
The local Viltnemnda can provide input and report sightings, but they do not set quotas for wolves or bears. They are, however, often the first responders to verify damage to livestock (sheep kills) before the state nature inspector (Statens Naturoppsyn) arrives to confirm compensation claims.
Urban Wildlife Conflicts
As Norwegian cities expand, the Viltnemnda faces increasing calls regarding urban wildlife. Deer entering gardens to eat tulips or moose wandering into schoolyards are common issues.
In these scenarios, the Viltnemnda must assess public safety. Often, the solution is not to shoot, but to scare the animal away. However, if an animal becomes habituated and aggressive, the Viltnemnda has the authority to authorize a “municipal cull” (kommunal felling) for safety reasons.
Equipment and Training for Personnel
To work operationally for the Viltnemnda, particularly in the fallvilt group, rigorous training is required. Personnel must be certified owners of approved search dogs. They must also pass an annual shooting test, identical to the one required for big game hunters.
Safety equipment is paramount. Working on dark, icy roads at night to retrieve roadkill puts Viltnemnda personnel at risk. High-visibility gear, flares, and specialized lighting are standard issue, along with radios linked to the police operations center.
Case Study: A Typical Night Shift
Consider a typical Friday night in November for a Viltnemnda operative. At 02:00 AM, the phone rings; the police report a deer hit by a truck on a county road. The driver is unhurt, but the deer has fled into the forest with a broken leg.
The operative arrives, marks the site, and deploys a tracking dog. After 400 meters of tracking through dense snow, the dog locates the bedded, injured animal. The operative humanely dispatches the deer. The carcass is then dragged to the road, loaded up, and delivered to a designated facility for waste or, if the meat is undamaged and fresh, potentially sold to cover costs (though roadkill is rarely fit for human consumption).
The Future of Local Wildlife Administration
The structure of the Viltnemnda is evolving. With the amalgamation of municipalities, local knowledge risks being diluted. A Viltnemnda that used to cover one valley may now cover three, making it harder to know every landowner.
Digitalization is the future solution. Apps like “Sett og Skutt” (Seen and Shot) allow hunters to report data directly to the national register (Hjorteviltregisteret), streamlining the Viltnemnda’s administrative workload and allowing them to focus more on field management and conflict resolution.
Comparison: Viltnemnda vs. Other Agencies
To clarify where the Viltnemnda fits in the Norwegian bureaucracy, view the comparison below.
| Feature | Viltnemnda (Municipal) | Mattilsynet (State) | Statens Naturoppsyn (SNO) |
| Primary Focus | Local game management & roadkill | Animal health & food safety | State nature supervision |
| Authority Source | The Wildlife Act | Animal Welfare Act | Nature Diversity Act |
| Handles | Moose, Deer, Roe Deer, Small Game | Livestock, Pets, Diseases | Large Predators (Wolf/Bear) |
| Emergency Role | Traffic collisions (Fallvilt) | Disease outbreaks | Environmental crime |
| Appointed By | Municipal Council | Ministry of Agriculture | Ministry of Climate & Env. |
FAQs
What should I do if I find an injured bird in my garden?
You generally do not need to call the Viltnemnda for a small bird unless it is a rare species or clearly suffering due to human activity. Nature often takes its course. However, for larger birds of prey, you can contact the Viltnemnda or a specialized rehabilitation center for advice.
Does the Viltnemnda charge for removing roadkill?
No. Dealing with wildlife collisions is a public duty. There is no charge to the driver for the Viltnemnda’s response, provided the collision is reported to the police as required by law.
Can the Viltnemnda give me permission to shoot a fox on my property?
Generally, you can hunt fox on your own property during the open hunting season without special permission, provided you have a hunting license. If it is outside the season and the fox is causing damage (e.g., to livestock), you must apply to the municipality/Viltnemnda for a special permit.
How do I become a member of the Viltnemnda?
Members are usually nominated by political parties or local interest groups (like the local hunter and angler association) and appointed by the municipal council. Active engagement in local politics or wildlife organizations is the best path.
Is the Viltnemnda responsible for stray cats or dogs?
No. Stray domestic animals are the responsibility of the police and Mattilsynet. The Viltnemnda strictly manages wildlife. If you report a stray dog to them, they will refer you to the police (02800).
What happens to the meat from animals shot by the Viltnemnda?
If the animal is healthy and shot during a conflict resolution (not roadkill), the meat belongs to the Viltfondet (The Wildlife Fund). It can be sold, and the proceeds go back into local wildlife management. Roadkill is usually discarded due to extensive internal trauma.
Who controls the Viltnemnda?
The Viltnemnda is a municipal body, so it answers to the Municipal Council. However, their professional decisions can be appealed to the County Governor (Statsforvalteren), ensuring they adhere to national laws.
Conclusion
The Viltnemnda represents a unique and effective model of decentralized wildlife management. By placing responsibility in the hands of locals those who know the forests, the roads, and the animal populations best Norway ensures that its wildlife resources are stewarded with both respect and pragmatism.
For the resident and visitor alike, understanding the role of the Viltnemnda is essential. They are the ones who keep the roads safer, the forests balanced, and the hunting traditions sustainable. Whether you are reporting a collision or applying for a hunting quota, you are participating in a system designed to ensure that Norway’s rich natural heritage endures for generations to come. If you ever find yourself in a situation involving wildlife, remember that the Viltnemnda is your local expert resource, ready to assist 24 hours a day.
