Swedish Big 5: the Golden Eagle.

In Sweden, there are around 5,000 adult Golden Eagles, declining in the North but increasing in the southern parts of the country. 
The Golden Eagle is the second largest bird of prey in Sweden. They are shy and prefer to live in unpopulated areas, although sometimes they may come closer to inhabited areas to take advantage of carrion found on roads or in gardens. 

The Golden Eagle, also known as "the King's Eagle", preys different animals, from rodents to birds and in winter, when the food is scarce, may also eat carrion. It can also hunt bigger animals, such as young deers and raindeers or foxes. Golden Eagles may live up to 50 years. 

The females normally lay two eggs, with an average success rate of 0.5%, although in the southern part of the country the rate of success is higher due to the abundance of prey. 

The Golden Eagle is under threat for several reasons. Forestry activity, the construction of new forest roads and tracks, snowmobile traffic in breeding areas and the increase recreational use of previously indisturbed zones. Another threat is the recent increase in hunting pressure on the ptarmigan, one of the Golden Eagle's preys. Due to the strict EU regolations, it is not possible to leave out animal carcasses to support local eagle populations. 

Anyway, there is hope that is taken into account the need to protect and conserve these wonderful animals by this generation and the ones to come. 

Swedish Big 5: the Wolf.

Wolves were once extinct in Sweden but they are now recovering. The number of wolves living in Sweden is not precise, but it seems to be around 400-500 specimens. 
They are shy and well camouflaged animals and often move during the night so it is very hard to see them. They prefer to live in the forests, far from human beings. In Sweden there are no wolves in the northern part and also in the very southern part; they can be found in the central part of the country, where almost every forested area is part of the wolves territory. 

The wolf lives in a family where there are two parents, often called the alpha pair and the cubs. Most of the cubs leave the family before they become sexually mature. The ones who don't are seen by the parents as baby sits for the younger cubs. A wolf family is often called for a pack. 
The wolves defend their marked territory against trespassing wolves and fights between them are not uncommon. 
Wolves do not go in hibernation, they remain active all winter long. 
A home territory usually measures from 800 to 1000 km2 and the determining criterion in the choice of where to live is considered to be the access to food. 

Wolves' most common preys are roedeers, mooses and raindeers but they also prey on deers, badgers, hares, rodents and beavers. They can survive in all types of habitat as long as there is enough food and little risk of being hunted. 
If you are planning to go to Sweden and absolutely want to see a wolf, Wild Sweden could be right for you. Here you can find two links of the website:
http://www.wildsweden.com/short-tours/wolf-tour-in-summer/
http://www.wildsweden.com/short-tours/wolf-tracking-day/

Swedish Big 5: the Bear.

The Brown Bear is an undisputed symbol of the wild and maybe the most magical of Sweden's Big Five predators. It is a mysterious and elusive animal. In effect, notwithstanding the large bear population, few people could tell they have seen one in the wild during their whole life! 

To debunk a myth and remove any doubt about that, in Sweden there are NO polar bears! If you want to see them, the nearest place to go is Spitsbergen (Norway), almost 1000 miles north from Stockholm. 

The bears inhabiting the mountains and forests of Sweden are all Brown Bears (Ursus arctos). 

The Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project in 2004 estimated a swedish bear population in a number between 1635 and 2840 individuals, with an annual increase of 4.7%. 

They are widely distributed in the northern part of the country, especially in the West side. 

As Brown Bears are omnivorous, they eat a wide range of foods, including berries, ants, roots but also bees, voles and even larger animals such as mooses. 

During the autumn, they fatten up in preparation for hibernation, which usually takes place in a disused anthill or a spot at the foot of a large fir tree. 

Mothers give birth to the cubs during the winter in the dens and when they are 6 months old, they're ready to leave their mothers and start a new life on their own. 

In the past, bear hunting was common, but today the Brown Bear is a protected species. 

In Sweden there is the opportunity to take part in beautiful Brown Bear watching, organized by Wild Sweden. Here is the link of their website, so you can take a look! http://www.wildsweden.com/short-tours/brown-bear-watching-from-hide/

Swedish Big 5: the Lynx.

The Lynx (also called "Tiger of the North") is Europe's largest wild feline. In Sweden, the estimated population is around 1.500 specimens (out of a total of 2.000 specimens throughout Scandinavia!) and it is the third most common large predator there. 
It is not easy to see lynx in their natural habitat, as they are shy and elusive creatures. However, lynx populations are increasing, so in a (hopefully) near future, a higher number of people will be able to see them. 

In Sweden, they can be found mostly in the northern and central regions, but they are expanding their territories and moving to other counties such as Småland, Halland,Västergötland, Sörmland, Uppland and Östergötland. 
In Sweden lynx are legally hunted (controlled by quota), like also in other countries (Norway, Finland, Estonia and Latvia), while in Switzerland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy and France reintroduction programs have taken place. Eurasian Lynx are quick to rebound if hunting pressures are lessened and protected areas with good prey bases are set aside. 

The main threat to lynx populations is the loss of habitat due to forestry activity and development and expansion of agriculture. 

The Berne Convention adopted an Action Plan for the conservation of lynx in Europe. It requires trans-boundary management of lynx and the formulation of national action plans for each country where lynx are present.