Wolverines in Scandinavia face legal killing under depredation licences issued in response to reindeer losses, with ongoing tension between conservation targets and herder livelihoods.
Wolverines killed in legal culls face leg-hold trapping and shooting — methods that can cause injury and prolonged suffering before death if not monitored closely. Orphaned wolverine cubs whose mothers are killed require extensive specialist rehabilitation. Wolverines have large home ranges (up to 1,000 km2 for males) and captivity is extremely stressful. Reindeer killed by wolverines experience predation stress; calves are particularly vulnerable in spring.