Sámi Reindeer Herders & Their Relationship with Wolves

By Amy Porter, Director of Conservation; photos by Marcus Westburg

Published in Wolf Tracks vol. 41, no. IV

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Guardians of the taiga and tundra

In the crisp, frost-covered expanse of Sweden’s northern tundra, a herd of reindeer grazes on a patch of lichen. The sound of their foraging is faint but rhythmic, a soothing contrast to the otherwise vast silence. Watching over them are indigenous Sámi reindeer herders, who carry an ancient legacy of reindeer wisdom and traditions. Evidence suggests that the Sámi people of northern Sweden and Norway have had a relationship with reindeer dating back at least 2,000 years.

Initially, the Sámi were hunter-gatherers who followed wild reindeer migrations. Over time, they transitioned to a semi-nomadic lifestyle, domesticating reindeer and developing a herding culture that became central to their identity. By the Middle Ages, reindeer herding had become a systematic practice and a fully established tradition. This time-honored way of life is built around the natural grazing and free-ranging movements of reindeer, which migrate between winter forests and summer highlands each year. These migrations provide access to food while preventing overgrazing and avoiding harsh weather conditions. In winter, the reindeer graze in boreal forests, or taiga, dominated by pine, spruce, and birch trees. Lichen is their primary food source, which they dig out from beneath the snow. During summer, the herds move to higher altitudes where the taiga transitions into tundra. Here, reindeer feed on fresh grasses, shrubs, twigs, moss, and fungi.

Herding requires a profound understanding of terrain, weather, and reindeer behavior. Sámi herders pass down this knowledge through generations, adapting their routes to suit environmental conditions. Historically, herding was done on foot or with skis, but modern herders use snowmobiles in the winter and ATVs or motorcycles in the warmer months. Some regions also utilize helicopters or drones for locating herds. GPS collars are now common as well, allowing herders to track migration patterns and adjust routes if their animals stray.

Reindeer instinctively stay together, which helps herders guide them. The herding process is highly attuned to a reindeer’s biological rhythm. For instance, the animals tend to move with more urgency when food is scarce, helping herders drive them forward during certain periods of the year. Specially trained dogs are also used to manage herds by keeping them together, directing stragglers, and preventing them from scattering in open areas.

Reindeer feed of fresh grasses, moss, and fungi

Reindeer herding remains a vital part of Sámi culture and economy today. After attending the Wolves Across Borders conference in Sweden in 2023, I traveled through Sweden and Norway and connected with a few Sámi reindeer herders to learn how reindeer herding has been affected by the return of wolves on the landscape.

The Sámi people's relationship with wolves is complex, shaped by traditional beliefs and practical concerns. Wolves hold a significant place in Sámi folklore, symbolizing both danger and wisdom. Some stories emphasize respect and coexistence, portraying wolves as vital elements of the natural order. However, wolves can also present substantial challenges when they hunt and kill reindeer since they are central to Sámi sustenance and economic livelihood. Although the Sámi advocate for respectful coexistence with nature, they argue for sustainable wolf management to protect their herds and way of life too. They emphasize the need for greater local involvement and adaptive management practices that align with Sámi perspectives on wildlife and land use. Governance struggles emerge when different groups assert competing claims to have legitimate knowledge about wolves and their impacts. Centralized authorities often prioritize scientific data, while Sámi communities emphasize experiential, place-based knowledge. These differing perspectives can lead to conflicts and mistrust between national authorities and Sámi communities.

The Sámi people once faced intense discrimination and marginalization. For centuries, Scandinavian governments enforced assimilation policies – suppressing Sámi language, traditions, and reindeer-herding practices. Land rights were undermined to promote settlement, mining, and forestry, leaving a legacy of cultural and economic challenges. These historical conflicts remain embedded in ongoing struggles over land use, cultural preservation, and notably, wolf conservation and management.

Historically, wolves were nearly eradicated in Scandinavia by aggressive bounty programs designed to protect livestock and reindeer and to support rural livelihoods. By the 1960s, wolves had virtually disappeared from Sweden and Norway, while small populations persisted in Finland, primarily near the Russian border. In the 1970s, wolves began recolonizing parts of Sweden and Norway, migrating from Finland and Russia. Small populations reestablished themselves over the decades, though wolf numbers in both countries remain low today and are strictly managed to address conflicts with livestock and reindeer herding.

There is some cross-border collaboration between Sweden and Norway on managing wolves in reindeer-herding regions as wolves often roam between the two countries. However, there are important differences in how the two countries respond to wolves, mainly because of distinct national policies, legal frameworks, and population management strategies. While both countries aim to balance wolf conservation with the protection of Sámi herding rights, each has their own approach to managing wolves in reindeer-herding regions.

A Sámi reindeer herder hard at work

Sweden has a national minimum target population of 300 wolves. The “Reindeer Herding Act” grants Sámi herders exclusive land rights in designated areas. These regions cover almost the entire northern third of the country. While wolves are not excluded from these areas, management policies permit protective hunting if wolf predation becomes problematic for reindeer herders.

In contrast, Norway employs a strict zoning system, confining wolves to a designated “wolf zone” in the southeastern part of the country where only four to six breeding pairs of wolves are allowed to persist. Norway’s predator management strategy prioritizes reindeer herding and wolves are excluded from reindeer-herding areas, meaning those who stray are often preemptively killed. Licensed hunting is also more readily permitted, reflecting Norway’s stricter approach to wolf management compared to Sweden.

Both Sweden and Norway offer compensation programs for reindeer killed by wolves, but Sámi herders argue these programs fail to fully address the cultural and economic impacts that wolves can have.

For Sámi reindeer herders, the pressures from wolves are compounded by climate change and industrial development. Warmer winters have led to thawing and refreezing cycles, creating ice layers that prevent reindeer from accessing lichen. This forces herders to provide supplementary feed – a costly practice that risks altering reindeer behavior and increasing dependency on humans. Industrial development has also encroached on traditional reindeer pastures and migration routes. Expanding wind farms, logging operations, and mining projects fragment habitats and reduce grazing areas. Mining can further impact the environment by contaminating water sources. Despite legal efforts by some Sámi groups to resist these developments, economic interests often take precedence, exacerbating conflicts between traditional livelihoods and modern industries.

The Sámi people have a rich oral tradition that includes proverbs related to reindeer and wolves. They encapsulate the deep respect and understanding the Sámi have for their environment and the reindeer.

"The reindeer fears the wolf, but it is the storm that scatters the herd" 

This proverb highlights that while predators like wolves can pose a threat to reindeer, the most significant challenges often arise from unpredictable and uncontrollable forces of nature. For the Sámi, it serves as a reminder to prepare for both visible and hidden dangers in life, valuing resilience and foresight in the face of hardships.