Removals to Sweden, as with removals to any other country, are likely to bring you into contact with many differences to your previously accepted norm. Some wild animals that are a usual sight in the UK may not be so common in Sweden, whereas some of those that the Swede's are used to seeing may come as quite a shock to you.
Your removals to Sweden could bring you into contact with a number of rare and exciting creatures. Like many countries, Sweden has its fair share of zoos and animal parks in which they can be seen. Trips to these reserves can make for an ideal alternative weekend break or day out, the perfect opportunity to relax once you have moved house and settled in to your new Swedish home.
However, what of Sweden's indigenous wildlife? Among the more unusual animals you might see here are; the Arctic Fox, Red Deer, Lynx, Reindeer, Elk, Brown Bear, Grey Wolf, Seal, Wolverine and Wild Boar but it must be stressed that these are wild animals and must be respected as such. If you are lucky enough to see them in their own, natural environment, you are strongly advised to keep your distance. The following article contains more information about these animals with some ideas on where to find them.
Here at The Moving Partnership Ltd, we take the hassle out of arranging your removals to Sweden. With an extensive list of National and European removals company contacts built up over many years in the business, we will source the cheapest removals service taking care to match their services to your needs.
Removals to Sweden – Get a free online quote using the form to your right, or click here to talk to our European removals team.
Spotlight on Some of the Animals Native to Sweden
Arctic Fox
Able to survive in temperatures reaching as low as -50 degrees, the Artic Fox is well suited to its northern homeland. Its white winter fur coat provides the perfect camouflage enabling it to blend in to its snowy surroundings. The summer months see its coat change from white to a greyish brown. This means that, as the snows disappear, they are still able to hide and hunt effectively. Some important work is being carried out in Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve to help protect this officially endangered species.
Roe Deer
With up to a million of these in Sweden, they are really quite common and can be seen in many a national park or large woodland area, grazing of grasses and low growing or hanging foliage. They are mainly found in southern and central parts of Sweden, preferring to keep away from the colder, less hospitable north. Less common are Red and Fallow Deer though they are still around in south and central Sweden in good numbers. Head for the Ottenby Nature Reserve where there is an impressive herd, reputed to descend from the herds of King Charles X (1654). He had a wall built to contain his herd, much of which still stands today.
Lynx
The Lynx, or Tiger of the North as it has been dubbed, is a beautiful but sadly endangered wild cat. It is numbered at around 2000 throughout Scandinavia with 1500 choosing to live in Sweden and, though this may sound like a lot, it really isn’t. The Lynx is an elusive, shy creature and, as a result, very few people in Sweden can claim to have seen one in the wild. They are there though, especially in the northern and central regions and preservation initiatives are seeing them expand their territories southwards.
Reindeer
The Sami tribe often use reindeer to pull sleighs, but reindeer husbandry is big business in Sweden with around 34% of the country given over to it. Husbandry occurs predominantly in the Sami territories of Norrbotten, Västerbotten and Jämtland and it is designed to regulate their numbers as well as their spread. Each year, different areas of the region are given over to pasture and the pasturelands are worked in strict rotation so as not to denude the countryside, which is doubtless what these large animals with their voracious appetites would do, if not kept in check.
Elk/Moose
Elk, or Moose as they are also known, are widespread throughout Sweden. They can be seen from Swedish Lapland in the north right down through into the south but arguably the best place to see them is in the forests of Bergslagen, north of Lake Mälaren in northern Svealand where there are more Elks than people. Värmland, to the west of Sweden and bordering Norway, has another high density Elk population. Despite their numbers, Elk are naturally quite shy and wary animals so you’ll need to be quiet and patient to catch a glimpse of one and, beware, if you happen to see one staggering around in an orchard in autumn, he’ll likely be drunk, having gorged himself on fermenting apples.
Brown Bear
There are bears in the woods in Sweden, huge brown ones, but your chances of seeing one are slim. As big as these beasts are, they are incredibly shy and, as a result, estimates of their numbers vary widely. The latest research puts the figure at somewhere between 2500 and 2800. For your best chance of seeing one in the wild, visit the northern part of the country in autumn. During this time, the bears will be busying themselves eating, in preparation for their winter hibernation. They will be fattening themselves up, feasting on anything from leaves and berries to voles and even elk. Having stuffed themselves silly, they will then concentrate on collecting materials to make their hibernation den.
Grey Wolf
Wolves were driven to extinction in Sweden in the early 70’s but, since their re-introduction in 1977, they have been making a steady come back. Now numbered at in excess of 150, the best chance to see one or at the very least hear one is in central Sweden. The sound of a howling wolf is awesome if not a little scary. Many myths and legends have been created around them, none of which, it must be said, have much basis in fact but, even so, they persist and are perpetuated through folklore and film. Wolves are extremely territorial and will defend their boundaries ferociously, sometimes fighting to the death to claim or reclaim their space. For the most part though, they are quiet creatures who spend their time nurturing a close family bond, alpha parents looking after their first cubs until they are either old enough to fend for themselves or take over a babysitting role for the younger ones.
Grey Seal
Västervik on the eastern coast of Sweden is the best place to go seal watching. Here, you can see the Grey Seal in its element, swimming, fishing and frolicking in the water and basking in the sun on the rocks. If you’ve not seen a Grey Seal up close before, you might be quite surprised to learn that they can grow up to 10ft in length and weigh upwards of 600lbs. April and May is the best time to see them sporting their sleek fur coats before they moult in May and June. Another place to head for is the coastal town of Lysekil. Boat trips are available from here for the sole purpose of seal spotting.
Wolverine
Thanks to Hollywood, when most people hear the word Wolverine, they instantly think of the film of that same name or of The X-Men. They perhaps don’t even realise that there is a real life creature called a wolverine. And, if they have heard of it but not actually seen one, they might be forgiven for thinking that it is a relative of the wolf. In fact, the wolverine is more like a badger or an otter. One of its favourite winter foods is reindeer, which makes it particularly unpopular among the Swedish Sami tribe but it is also partial to a bit of elk and, since they never eat the whole thing, they are viewed by most as gluttonous and wasteful creatures. Though they are a protected species, they are to the Sami and other reindeer herders what a fox is to a farmer in the UK.
Wild Boar
Having been absent from the Swedish countryside for thousands of years, wild boars are returning with a vengeance. An omnivore, its foraging often causes damage to farmers’ crops and so opinion is divided as to whether their return is a welcome one or not. The story goes that they were accidentally released from hunting parks in the late 20th century and their numbers have been steadily increasing ever since. Recent research puts their population at easily in excess of 100,000. You will most likely come across them in central and southern Sweden, as they prefer its warmer climate.
About MPL
At Moving Partnership Ltd, we aim to find you the cheapest household and/or corporate removals quotations whilst ensuring that the service provided is tailored to your specific requirements. We do this through our many contacts with National and European removals companies, enabling us to select exactly the right removals firms for the job. We have a team of dedicated removals experts who are on hand throughout the year to help with any query you may have regarding your removals to Sweden. Call us today for the most competitive removals quote.
Removals to Sweden – Get a free online quote using the form to your right, or click here to talk to our European removals team.
