Snowy Owl Declared Extinct in Sweden After a Decade Without Breeding

Source link : https://europ.info/2025/12/31/snowy-owl-declared-extinct-in-sweden-after-a-decade-without-breeding/

Sweden’s snowy owl population has been officially declared extinct following a decade without any successful breeding, according to a recent report by BirdGuides. Once a rare but celebrated sight in the country’s northern regions, the iconic Arctic bird has now disappeared from the Swedish avian landscape, raising concerns among conservationists about the broader impacts of climate change and habitat loss. This announcement marks a significant moment in Sweden’s biodiversity history, highlighting the challenges faced by vulnerable species in a rapidly changing environment.

Snowy Owl Declared Extinct in Sweden Following Ten-Year Breeding Absence

After a continuous absence of breeding records for over a decade, Swedish ornithologists have officially declared the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) extinct in Sweden. The iconic Arctic raptor, once a sporadic but celebrated visitor during winter months, has failed to establish any breeding pairs since 2013. Despite years of targeted conservation efforts and monitoring across its traditional breeding grounds in northern Sweden, no evidence of nesting activity has been documented.

Key factors contributing to this decline include:

• Habitat loss due to climate change altering tundra ecosystems.
• Lowered prey availability resulting from fluctuating lemming populations.
• Increased human disturbance and environmental stressors.

The declaration marks a somber milestone for…

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Author : Victoria Jones

Publish date : 2025-12-31 16:13:00

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