Interactions between eagles and semidomestic reindeer: lessons learned from field surveys and deterrents
Aemilius Johannes van der Meiden, Andres Lopez-Peinado, Peter, Sunesson, Christian Emilsson, Navinder J Singh

TL;DR
This study investigates eagle reindeer predation in Fennoscandia, examining eagle abundance patterns around calving and testing deterrents like ventilators and prisms to reduce conflicts.
Contribution
It provides new insights into eagle behavior during reindeer calving and evaluates the effectiveness of deterrents in diverting eagles from reindeer herding areas.
Findings
Eagle abundance peaks during reindeer calving.
Deterrents significantly reduce eagle presence in calving areas.
No direct attacks on reindeer calves were observed.
Abstract
Predation by eagles on semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is an emerging human wildlife conflict in Fennoscandia. Both the Golden (Aquila chrysaetos) and the White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) are believed by herders to predate on reindeer, however, there is a considerable knowledge gap regarding extent of predation and scavenging by each species, and their distribution and behaviour within the reindeer herding areas. Lethal and non-lethal methods have been suggested to reduce this conflict with eagles. We developed this project to fill the existing knowledge gaps by investigating the patterns of eagle abundance before, during, and after reindeer calving in a herding district in northern Sweden, and testing the effect of two potential deterrents (air ventilators and rotating prisms) in diverting eagles away from reindeer calving areas. During the single study period,…
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Taxonomy
TopicsWildlife Ecology and Conservation · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
