Any risks of bears/wolves or other wild animals? I’m thinking about doing an extended Rallarvegen cycling route from [visitnorway.com](https://visitnorway.com) in summer.
Any risks of bears/wolves or other wild animals? I’m thinking about doing an extended Rallarvegen cycling route from [visitnorway.com](https://visitnorway.com) in summer.
33 comments
Short answer: No.
Rallarvagen is a popular tourist route.
No nothing to be afraid of. There are restrictions on open fires during summer however, and make sure you are equipped to “leave no trace” – there is an alarming prevalence of seeing used toilet paper in places these days!
As Abandoned says however tourist attractions, and routes will be extremely popular in summer (“thanks” to “social media”) so if you are looking to experience peace and quiet I would look to plan your own route somewhere. As a result some of the popular places also try to deter camping.. I seem to remember visitors I had received an SMS around Troll Tunga telling them there was no camping in some areas.
The [most dangerous animal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick) in Scandinavia
A 6 year old girl was the last victim of a wolf attack in Norway, but that happened Desember 28th 1800, so 222 years ago.
The last victim of bears was a 14 year old boy herding sheep, but that happened on September 14th in 1906. That is 117 years ago. I’m not counting fatal polar bear attacks on Svalbard.
The most dangerous animal in Norway to yourself is yourself. 😂
Rallarvegen is safe, just take it easy on your bike.
Wildcamping in Norway is totally safe, animals wise. However, be aware that the weather is unpredictable in the mountains, and nights can be very cold even in July
Car accident with Moose on the way to your hike is probably the biggest animal risk in Scandinavia.
Short answer is no not at all.
There are dangers without a doubt.
Here is a quick list.
– Weather
People hike and is poorly equipped incase of bad weather. (Spring/autumn season mainly).
– Under rating and not doing good enough research on their hike.
Under geared for said hike. (Walking in sandals onto a high mounten.) Or poorly equipped so accidents happen and no way to call for help.
– animals.
Watch out for some animals. Like moose, Musk(in north) and rarly bears. they are normaly not dangerouse but stay clear of them as they are huge animals.
We got 1 snake with venom. Only dangerous if your allergic and bites are rare. You will often find them sun bathing on rocks.
– Ticks
Get the tick shot if your going into woods. As they do have transmitable diseases. You cant vaccinate against all but atleast thenone that transmit straight away in a bite. The other deseases as long as you take them of fairly quick (in a few hpurs to a day) your good. Not realy a huge issue as not all have disease but its imo the worst one we got. Doesnt hurt to be bit as you wont notice them at all normaly.
– Dont drink glacier water.
As it can contain harmfull ingridients.
Best thing is to bloil or use a filter at natural springs.(still no glacier water.)
– Stay out of big cities.
assaults doenst happen often and rarely with death. But as with all big cities they do contain fu up people.
Dont let the list scare you. Just do your research. Get proper gear for the hike. Choose a good season. Preff travel in pair as you wont always see people(atleast if your away from tourist hot spots.) Most of the land scape is free to roam. Except privat gardens/farm acres. And enjoy.
Ps:you can fish for food many places and is engouraged. But some places you need a fishing liscense and pay a fee. (Google it)
As long as you don’t disturb the trolls you will be fine. Also never eat mushrooms in Scandinavia even if they look exactly like the one from your home country that you are used to eat.
Just be aware that some animals scream a lot at night. Almost pissed myself when a [deer started screaming](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjqDaEYTIgc) close to my tent at 3AM. Foxes are also notorious for screams that resemble a woman being murdered.
Other than that… you’ll probably be fine. Most of our wild animals will avoid you like the plague.
Some general tips.
June is a good month to have summer without so much ticks and mosquitos.
Bring a field shovel and dig a hole atleast 30cm deep as a latrine, put the dirt back over before you leave.
Ticks are horrible little monsters, check every night before bed for them.
Fishing is regulated by landowners, and you need to buy a fishing card from them to fish in many lakes and rivers.
If you go from mid August-christmas, its a appriciated if you use bright colors out in the Woods/mountains as that is big game season. Also dont stealth camp during big game season for this reason.
Its tradition to say hi to random people you pass on trails, but not around town/cities.
Open fires are generally not legal.
Bring enough water and food.
Bring enough clothing, it can get cold at night even if it was 20+c daytime.
If you think you dont need a rain jacket, you will need one.
Dont leave trash in Nature, that is a big no no here.
Its not legal to camp in peoples gardens or on fields.
When you get higher above sea level you might not have as much endurance as you have on low ground.
Probably not a concern om your trip. But if you go to less touristy places out in nowhere, you might hear gunshots or see people with guns in/around woods. This is 99.9% of the time legal activity so no need to be afraid. There is quite a few shooting ranges around, and people target practice/ compete on private property sometimes.
There is really no wolf or bears. Most dangerous animal on mainland is huggorm(snake) moose and people from Oslo. If you are bit by a snake you will likely not die, but you should seek medical attention asap. Voilent crime is really really rare outside of the big cities.
Its not the bear and wolves thats the problem,the moose is pretty much the most dangerous animal i norway.I would rather face a bear than an angry moose
Just stay on the trails to keep away from the trolls and you are good
As some have stated wolfs and bears are not a problem. But be careful about moose they can attack unprovoked and especially if they have a calf.
Bring with you some plastic bags to pick up your trash.
And remember to have fun.
You can camp wherever you want if you are over 300 meters from the nearest inhabited building.
The wildlife will not be an issue.
Unless you are on Svalbard. Polar bears *will* fuck you up
Do not, for the life of you, camp in public toilets. The monster that lives there: [Dodraugen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr8sjZALB1U), will pull you down the sewer pipe, and no one will see you again.
Please come prepared, we spend enough tax money on tourist rescue already.
As long as you don’t go camping in Svalbard you should be ok.
Don’t worry in Summer. They keep the lights on all night.
Ticks, midges, and mosquitoes… Apart from that I won’t worry. Also, make sure you are appropriately equipped for the weather.
Check out https://m.youtube.com/@matthewnorway for some good cycling videos around Norway. I think Rallarvegen is in one of the videos.
No dangers at all, probably on of the most safest places to stay, thinking of the wildlife. Be prepared with some good clothing and gear for outdoors. The rain and wind, on a cold summers day can be harsh if you you just have have clothing for
20 – 25c with sun and blue sky.
Keep moose at a distance and your good.
If you meet a moose calf you better walk away or climb a tree (worst case).
Met a bear once (bjørkelangen) and almost shit my pants( I was 14), but so did the bear.
My friend watched us from afar and said we comically ran away from each other.
I woke up several times with sheep outside my tent. I’m lucky to have made it out alive!!!
Polar Bears 🐻❄️ skin is black and the fur is hollow..
if by chance you did meet one, Svalbard law states you can’t actually shoot it unless life or death of a human. It can kill your dog and you still can’t shoot it.
If you do kill a protected polar bear, you could go to prison or pay a very high fee.
Finnish Brown Bear 🐻 can be found in Norway but studies state it’s about 20-30 of them and they usually live in Sweden most of the time.
Norway like most European countries wiped them about.
Norway does have one poisonous ☠️ snake and that is Hoggorm or common viper/adder and it could kill a dog, but usually not a human. Maybe 15 deaths in Europe.
Last time I checked it was 150 meters from someone’s cabin you can stay. That line is blurry depending on the area in Norway.
the most dangerous thing you’d encounter that isn’t more scared of you than you are of them, would be a stray cat
Pretty much all wolves and bears and any another animal that could be remotely dangerous to humans got exterminated a long time ago. There are a few right at the border to Sweden, but generally Norway has one of the tamest nature in the world.
It is safe!
There are bears and wolves in the Norwegian wild. But the biggest danger is moose and deer in heat. But the biggest danger are the trolls like in the movie. Please use the online government resources to know where it’s safe to camp.
Watch out for the trolls, they like to play hide and seek. I think I last one hide behind a huge rock 🤔still looking
Dears are the animals that causes most damage on people in Norway…
Norway is safe for camping, just follow the wilderness laws we have, and if you see a moose or a bear be carefull they rarely attack if they arent defending their kids, and wolf are more scared of us than we are of them
There are no bears nor wolves in the area near Rallarvegen. The only two animals you should be wary about, are snakes and ticks.
Bears and wolves are almost extinct in Norway and are generally shy. Same with lynxes. Be careful if you encounter a moose though, especially a female with a calf. Also look out for “Hoggorm”, the only venomous snake in Norway, not super venomous though. Can be fatal if you’re allergic to wasps, same poison basically.
Also make sure to use tick and mosquito repellant.
Its generally quite safe to camp outside in Norway. Just don’t underestimate how cold nights can get in the summer.
Only animal related danger are elks with “Elk Kids” (in lack of better words) 😝 you are never gonna run into them though.. If you do then dont do the big bear scare thing.. Just stand stil and slowly back off in the least provocative way possible, beeing the opposite direction.