Sweden faces a biodiversity crisis as two iconic owl species join the growing list of nationally extinct animals. The snowy owl and short-eared owl will soon be classified as extinct within Swedish borders according to preliminary data from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Mikael Svensson, a biologist at the university's species database, expressed concern about the pattern affecting multiple owl species. "It's a somewhat surprising outcome that so many owls are facing such difficult circumstances," he stated. "The situation looks poor for species like the great gray owl too, so something is happening during nighttime hours, one could say."
The snowy owl gained international fame through the Harry Potter franchise as Harry's companion Hedwig. Scientists point to declining rodent populations as the primary cause for its disappearance from Sweden. The traditional four-year cycle of rodent population peaks in mountain regions has collapsed since the early 1980s, dramatically affecting the snowy owl and other birds of prey.
Climate change appears to be a major factor in the rodent decline. Rodents depend on stable snow cover to build tunnel systems beneath the surface. When snow repeatedly melts and refreezes, it creates an icy crust that prevents normal habitat formation.
Sweden's Red List assessment occurs every five years and evaluates extinction risk for species within the country. The current preliminary update reveals broader concerning trends beyond the two owl species. Eight additional bird species are newly classified as critically endangered, including the tree pipit, willow tit, black-headed gull, ortolan bunting, and southern dunlin.
Some species show positive developments. Seven birds are proposed for removal from the Red List, including the white-tailed eagle and double snipe. However, eight new species join the threatened list, creating a net negative trend overall.
The classification "nationally extinct" doesn't mean global extinction. Snowy owls still exist in Norway, though their situation there remains precarious according to researchers. Sweden currently lists over 200 species as nationally extinct, primarily insects and plants, along with two mammal species and eight previously extinct bird species.
Approximately 60,000 multicellular species inhabit Sweden, with sufficient data available to assess about 22,000 of them. In the most recent full assessment, nearly 4,700 species appeared on the Red List, with almost half considered threatened.
This biodiversity decline reflects broader environmental challenges facing Nordic countries. Changing climate patterns disrupt traditional ecosystems that have remained stable for centuries. The disappearance of iconic species serves as a visible indicator of these deeper ecological shifts affecting the region's natural heritage.
International readers should understand that Sweden maintains rigorous species monitoring compared to many nations. The detailed tracking enables early detection of population declines but also reveals troubling trends that might go unnoticed in countries with less comprehensive environmental oversight.