Field staff in the Alajaure nature reserve north of Kiruna have discovered what appears to be sabotage on a snowmobile trail, with moose emerging as the prime suspects. According to reports from the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten, several metal trail marking poles along a snowmobile route between Alajärvi and Paatsijärvi have been bent and damaged. Mats Persson, coordinator at the county board's nature management unit, told local media that moose are the main suspects in the incident.
'It's really random what they go after,' Persson said, noting that while moose typically target trees and bushes, they occasionally damage man-made structures. The damaged poles now pose a hazard to snowmobile drivers, prompting field personnel to place warning signs and markers along the six-kilometer trail. Due to frozen ground conditions, repairs are expected to be delayed until the spring thaw.
It's really random what they go after
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining infrastructure in wildlife-rich northern Swedish landscapes.