The Park lies within the grazing pastures of South Senja Reindeer District and is its main calving area. Most calving occurs between mid-April to mid-June. In Ånderdalen there are historical migration routes for the reindeer when they travel to spring and summer pastures. The routes lead north-westwards into the heart of Ånderdalen, Kaperdalen and surrounding area. Conversely, when the animals move back to the autumn and winter grounds, they travel in a south-easterly direction towards Tranøyfjorden’s coast. During spring and summer scattered flocks are in the Park as well as the coastal belt which means reindeer are using the Park on a year-round basis. Due to unstable winter-weather and pressure on grazing areas there is a new tradition to supply additional winter forage for small flocks at Gammelseter and Holmedalen.

The reindeer rutting season begins in September and continues until the middle of November. The bulls move with small flocks of cows to the winter pastures and specifically the Gjeska and Ånderdalen/Blåfjell area. During the rut some bulls can act aggressively, and it’s therefore recommended to steer clear of reindeer herds at this time of the year.

Reindeer on their early winter pastures. Photo: Anne-Katrine Borander

Reindeer bull in the autumntime rutting season. Photo: Jan Inge Karlsen

When you meet reindeer

To encounter reindeer up close is a very special experience. Let it also be a positive event for the reindeer themselves by following these precautions:

  • Keep your dog on a leash. Reindeer can easily associate a free-running dog as a threatening predator on the hunt. Over the whole of Norway, April 1st – August 20th is a law-bound ‘on leash period’, which means your dog must be on a lead then. Even outside these dates your dog must be under control. Dogs running loose can pose a considerable threat to reindeer, sheep, other livestock, and wildlife.
  • Change your direction of travel if you encounter grazing reindeer.
  • Consider sitting down and waiting until reindeer have passed if there are reindeer coming your way.
  • In springtime reindeer are particularly vulnerable after the long winter, and cows are calving. If a cow is startled and leaves its calf, the calf’s life may be in danger. When you meet reindeer in the spring you need to carefully consider which route you need to take to avoid disturbing them. Make a detour if necessary.

Farming

There is little sheep-farming in the Park. A farmer in Flastadvåg transports the sheep over to Lomsnes in Selfjorden and although these sheep graze primarily outside the Park, they can be found foraging in the Park in Selfjordbotn and eastwards towards Gjøvika and Vassvika. There is more sheep husbandry in the Vesterfjell area, from where sheep graze into the Park. In general, there is very restricted sheep grazing access to the Park area.

Sheep on the summer pastures at Lomsnes in Selfjorden. Photo: Ingve Birkeland