The influence of feeding large carnivores on reindeer husbandry

This research project examines how large carnivore feeding for photographing and viewing purposes is affecting on reindeer husbandry, based on methods used in social and ecological sciences. We evaluate how the artificial feeding large carnivores influences the dynamics of pasture use by reindeer and the profitability of reindeer husbandry. The University of Lapland and reindeer herding cooperatives in Suomussalmi and Kuusamo are Luke's cooperators in the project. The data consist of positions by GPS collared reindeer, the number of large carnivores visiting the feeding sites, statistics of reindeer husbandry and damages caused by carnivores, locations of harvested carnivores and interview data (reindeer herders, people feeding carnivores). The goal is to construct scenarios about the effects of feeding conducted at different intensities.