SLU Grimsö Wildlife Research Station

The research station was founded in 1974 as an ecological research station with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as principal. Since 1992, Grimsö has been a part of the activities of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)  and the staff is divided between the S and NJ Faculties. Approximately 40 people work at Grimsö, both researchers, doctoral students and students as field assistants and administrative and technical staff.

Wildlife monitoring

The continuous stocktaking at Grimsö Wildlife Research Station covers 18 measurement series (>100 parameters for 10 mammal species), ticks, vegetation data and approximately 70 bird species in total) with annual field data. A large part of the stocktaking was initiated during the 1970s, and several stocktaking activities are unique to the country. The framework of wildlife monitoring includes a number of data series with systematised wildlife observations, hunting statistics as well as various physiological measurements and tissue samples from various wildlife.

Data from the different monitoring forms is used, among other things, for evaluating different stocktaking methods and to follow the species’ population dynamics (number variation) in relation to each other or silviculture. For example, by means of this data during the 1990s the significant effects of a substantially lower fox population (due to scabies) on several small game, such as hare and roe deer, were demonstrated.

Researchers can utilise SITES

The continuous stocktaking was initially financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, thereafter through SLU and for a few years through funds for ongoing environmental analysis. As of 2013 the stocktaking, as well as support for various equipment, have been included in the Swedish Research Council’s investment in a national infrastructure for field research, SITES (the Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science).

SITES offers all researchers, regardless of affiliation, the opportunity to use Grimsö Wildlife Research Station and research area as well as the other eight stations as resources in their research. As a researcher you can work at a station and conduct measurements or experiments, or assign commissions which the station will manage. Another opportunity is to utilise existing data which is collected by the stations. Data from the monitoring is currently available through the portal INTERACT GIS, the website of SITES or contact with Grimsö Wildlife Research Station.

Contact: Gunnar Jansson, Station manager of SITES

Research

Our research provides a scientific base for the Swedish management of wild animals and birds. This necessitates information on how the animals live, their location in Sweden and genetic studies. We also conduct research on the attitudes of human beings towards predatory animals and what you can do to reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife.
In addition to access to a 13,000 ha large research area, we have a genetic laboratory, kitchen, plant preparation lab, wood and metal workshop, vast knowledge of capture and marking of wild animals, immobilisation technology, etc.

Swedish Wildlife Damage Centre

The Swedish Wildlife Damage Centre is a national centre for knowledge of wildlife, wildlife damage and society. The Swedish Wildlife Damage Centre conducts research, development work, collaboration and information activities. The collaboration work also includes extensive training activities. Our aim is to contribute to limiting damage and conflicts caused by protected game species, primarily large predatory animals and grazing birds.

Education

At Grimsö 5-–10 Bachelor’s and Master’s projects as well as a 15 credit course in Wildlife biology are conducted annually. In addition, several continuing professional development opportunities are provided for those who work within wildlife management, county administrative boards and wildlife management delegations. The latter are mainly conducted by the Wildlife Damage Centre.

Would you like to visit Grimsö?

At Grimsö there are also conference premises, overnight accommodation (35 beds), a restaurant  and the possibility to bring your own food. The accommodation is used by course participants but is also open for external bookings.

Do you want to book accommodation for a few nights or a longer period? We only have information in Swedish at the moment. Please contact intendentur.grimso@slu.se for help or go to the booking system. 

Wildlife exhibition

In 2004, the permanent wildlife and nature exhibition “Naturligtvis” was opened. Please feel free to visit the exhibition and Grimsö Wildlife Research Station. The price does not depend on the size of the group and the guided tour takes 2 hours. If there are more than 50 people, the group will be divided and one half of the group will first receive information from the guide and the second half can look around in the exhibition themselves. The groups will switch place after 1 hour.

For more information, please contact Linda Höglund, +46 581-697310, linda.hoglund@slu.se.