A conversation with Haralds Barviks, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Hunters Association
40 years ago, hunting (at least in conversation) was more associated with the Communist Party elite and their inner circle. As it turned out, that was not exactly the case, yet for some time now, hunters are once again being attributed all sorts of strange things.
Since we began joint activities with people who reason realistically and who, in thought, word and deed, have both feet on the ground in order to prevent the desire to restrict and discriminate against us – the hunters – we have felt and seen a desire from various social groups, institutions and organisations to influence us. These also include state institutions (the State Audit Office, the SRS, and SRS structures), which are interested in us personally, in our economic activities, and in the people around us. If this were not a reality of life, it could be called a simple detective story. For example, state services became interested in my relative's business. I suspect I am not the only one among hunters in this regard. As far as I have spoken with like-minded people, many of us who have been actively involved in social activities have become objects of increased interest.
One must borrow a question from detectives: “Who needs this and who is it necessary for?” Who are hunters bothering?
I think we have touched upon a topic that is very personally painful and important to someone! Before we spoke about funding issues and asked: where and how do the so-called “big, million-euro projects” originate and come to be – projects in which the aforementioned institutions have no interest for some reason – there was peace! As soon as we started speaking about this aloud, the “anthill” became active and nervous. So we are on the right track and asking the right questions!
Lately, when speaking publicly about hunters, a peculiar information background is being created: there are unnamed “friends of nature” and then there are specific hunters. This “background” gives the relevant institutions a justification, as it were, to look into what hunters are doing. As a result, a segment of society either does not know what is happening or does not venture to discuss (or defend) the issue, because they reside in a different information space.
Large resources are and have been invested in the shaping of public opinion. We – the hunters – do not have such funds! Moreover, we are working, we are busy, and we do not have time to engage in nonsense! We have to work! A farmer must sow, plough, weed and harvest! A forester must plant, tend and manage the forest. Those who do nothing sit at a computer in the city, and all their knowledge of natural processes comes from a nature trail walked on a Saturday or Sunday… For some, understanding of natural processes is limited to what they see while walking along that trail! This person has no understanding of a rye field, a forest, or the animals living in the forest or on a farm.
Humanity cannot survive without products! We are part of nature, we must eat and drink, and food must be produced “somehow”. Hunting is exactly the same as farming and the use of natural resources! If we do not hunt… Let us imagine a day when we draw a red line: “We will not hunt for two or three years!” I think after two years there would be a catastrophe! Why? In forestry, at least the last five years of work would be ruined (young growth eaten), farmers would start to forget what a harvest is… Because there wouldn't be one! City dwellers would huddle in their cities and walk around with stun guns in their daily lives because rabid foxes would be threatening them at every corner, and mange and parasitic diseases would spread. No matter how sterile an environment city dwellers imagine for themselves, the increase in the number of wild animals would bring serious problems associated with these animals.
Nature will “regulate” us ourselves in this way! If someone has the desire to try, in the circle of their family, children and grandchildren, what parasites we can contract or to understand what echinococcosis is – a disease treated surgically – please do! I do not support such an opportunity and consider it irresponsible! It is irresponsibility towards society!
A lot is said about public safety, but in recent years the number of accidents on the roads involving forest animals is increasing!
How do wild animals affect public safety? First – traffic accidents! As you already mentioned in your question, in the current situation, where hunting takes place, the number of accidents is rising anyway! What will happen if it is banned? Let us not think about that, but – as far as I know – accidents on roads involving animals are a problem elsewhere in Europe and the world too. Solutions are being sought, but…
Next – aviation safety! For example, crows, rooks or gulls multiply somewhere… A recent news item: a flock of birds flies into an aeroplane engine, and only thanks to the skill of the pilots does the aircraft land in a field of grain. Thank God that a few hundred people stayed alive! We must evaluate what is worth more to us – human life or common birds. Birds in the urban environment are being protected… The urban environment is not intended for the multiplication of the gull population! Terns nesting on roofs… Let them nest on the shore! Diseases, filth, noise. By the way – a sleep-deprived person is not capable of working! If we look closer – problems can arise for the overall economic situation, and that is not funny at all! The artificially created reverence for gulls, crows or rooks in cities is similar to the situation with large predators in Europe. Bear attacks on humans are happening in Romania. Why? A bear is a clever animal and has somehow realised that it is not being hunted. Gradually, the bear population has become bolder; in many places, they do what they want. “Give me a hamburger! You won't? I'll take the burger-eater himself! As a side dish!”
How are things with bears in Latvia? They are mentioned quite cautiously, not in the hunters' circle, but in conversation…
I cannot say that the bear population is evenly distributed in Latvia, but bears are now all over Latvia! They have left us for Lithuania and are spreading there too! The Latvian bear population is not large, but it has been stable for several years; they are also breeding here.
Can we think that, compared to Soviet times, the environment is more favourable for bears?
The number of bears has increased! Bears arrived from Estonia, stayed, and settled here! The environment in Latvia and Estonia does not differ much! In terms of food supply, we are even quite favourable! I think the population will increase in the coming years and we should already be thinking about its management so that we do not end up in the situation of the Romanians and Slovaks, where a bear attacks a human.
Is it known why at one point bears were in Estonia and Russia, but in Latvia not at all or only rarely?
It is hard to say! I think they were hunted here! In Estonia and on the Russian border, they had the opportunity to take refuge and for the population to recover! The bear population is growing in many places! A large increase in the number of this species is also observed in Russia, including the Far East! I have been going there regularly for ten years to hunt, accompanying hunters, and I see that in ten years the number of bears has doubled, if not tripled.
The Far East! Have you happened to encounter an Amur (Ussuri) tiger during your hunting expeditions?
I have not met one face-to-face! I have seen many tracks! I do not want to agree with the claim that the number of tigers is rapidly decreasing! From experience, I know – we go by snowmobile to a certain place. After a while, on the way back, our path has already been crossed by a tiger; the tracks are visible. One time could be called a coincidence, but!… If it happens three, four or five times, I call it a pattern. The territory is relatively densely populated, and each tiger has its own (territory)! I would say the population is stable!
Returning to bears, has the ban on hunting them in Latvia affected the increase in numbers? In Estonia, as far as is known, hunting is allowed, and in Russia too!
In Estonia, wolf and lynx hunting is strictly controlled, and bear hunting is allowed. In Russia, it is freer, but the intensity of hunting is different. In Russia, the bear hunting quota has not been met for years.
Hunters and the hazel grouse. Hunters usually say that the hazel grouse is there, but only where it should be, not everywhere!
Ornithologists wanted to achieve the restriction or banning of hazel grouse hunting, or licensing (like for red deer). A silly idea! Very silly! Speaking about the grouse themselves, I agree with the opinion of my colleagues: hazel grouse are where they should be! They live in their habitat – in young forest stands, along small rivers, along reservoirs. There are many of them there! Yes, I agree, there is a lot of “pressure” on the grouse, but it also comes from… the ornithologists themselves. In Latvia, large birds of prey have multiplied (which is not talked about), for which the hazel grouse is one of the main food sources. We can also throw a stone into the hunters' garden – we should hunt more foxes, raccoon dogs and martens! These flightless predators also have an impact on the hazel grouse population, but as a species, it is not endangered! Talk about endangerment is a desire to get their hands on some money or into the public purse to pay for their hobby!
Near Gulbene, a bird ringer was proud of a nearby Ural owl nest. But – martens appeared, and the owl no longer nests there… How are we doing with martens?
There are many martens! There is no quota for hunting them, but… the fur business has practically disappeared in Latvia… Unfortunately! Martens are hunted either for one's own hobby or for personal needs! Hunters' interest in hunting martens has decreased. Here it would be necessary to think about a state support programme to revive the fur market! That would solve the issue with martens and American minks (which, according to the ornithologists themselves, destroy 90% of nests), foxes and raccoon dogs. Martens can be hunted, but it requires time and work! A marten is not an animal that runs around in everyday life. If we think that one marten lives somewhere, there are quite a few more! From my own experience: near capercaillie leks, I catch about 40-50 martens during the season, and over time the number of capercaillie visibly increases! So, here the balance is created by the hunter, not nature! If before regular hunting I see a few capercaillie, after a couple of years they are already walking in groups!
When discussing large birds of prey, the lesser spotted eagle (in connection with bans) is often mentioned. How about the others – harriers, kites, falcons, hawks, other eagles? They are talked about less, there are no protection projects, but…
I will not venture to judge the breeding pairs, but the number of white-tailed eagles has increased many times over; this is visible to everyone who lives or tends to stay near fish ponds. If at one time pond managers or owners were quite surprised to see one or two individuals, now one sees five or six sitting at a single pond during migration. The same can be observed near dead, perished animals. We look: an eagle is circling! Clearly, a wolf has killed something. We go there – yes – several white-tailed eagles are sitting!
Golden eagles are seen, but their numbers remain stable and are not increasing drastically. Kites and harriers… Driving through the countryside, one can see these birds quite often, which indicates an increase in numbers! In my youth, I was keen on ornithology, and I know: once they were a rarity! The only known, regular and best-known species was the marsh harrier! Now there are others too!
So the predators have a sufficient food base.
Of course! If we talk about the recent fad of “biodiversity”, I believe we can be a model country because we are in a good state. I am surprised by the OECD report, which was ideologically created right here among us. I consider it a kind of sabotage against us, our country and society! The “reporters” should be held accountable for this! State security structures should understand for themselves and explain to society: what the goals of the false report are, why it is presented internationally, and how it affects the self-esteem of local residents. I consider this report directed against us and our country!
In my opinion, the only interest in making Latvia's situation look internationally worse than it actually is, is to scam more money to study what is “bad”. For example, we can study the presence of hazel grouse in a pine forest. We will not find any! But it is possible to create a sample plot where there will be nothing and get the corresponding results! The data will be what we want! Any data can be falsified and distorted, which is very common here!
How are things in Latvia with species that are not typical for us? The jackal met near Jelgava, the black vulture in Kurzeme… Frequent guests? The jackal is known from the story of Mowgli.
I invite everyone, as much as possible, not to hunt but to exterminate the jackal so that there is not even a scent of it left in Latvia!!!! We do not yet realise what kind of evil is coming with it! The jackal has adapted very well to the urban environment! It lives alongside humans, in a wood shed, but we do not know it (we may not know)! It eats everything it can find: cucumbers, pumpkins, courgettes, and it also likes everything that is alive and moving, including roe deer! If a fox hunts young roe deer fawns, a jackal will deal with adult ones! The jackal is an “intermediate” between a wolf and a fox, filling in places where there is no wolf! If a wolf needs a forest stand to live, a jackal will live right next door! These are great dangers! The attempt to tell us that the jackal arrived here naturally due to climate change is absurd! It is a pretext for creating new restrictions so that this species is not touched! If jackals arrived naturally, they would have to be protected throughout Europe. The story of this species' “arrival” was told to us by Estonian colleagues: ten years ago, an animal lover in Estonia imported jackals, tried to breed them, which succeeded, but having found no buyers, he released them into the wild. The first jackals appeared near the Matsalu Reserve. Then it was found that there were already too many of these animals in the reserve… People hunted them, thinking they were wolves! In Latvia, the jackal is already in all regions, but – as I said – it is quite cunning and often does not catch the eye! That IS a problem! They are hunted or hit on roads in places where no one even thought about jackals! So… There are also enough of these animals in Lithuania!
Does the jackal have any natural enemies, or only competitors?
The wolf! Also the lynx! They exterminate or drive away the jackal in their territories. But – the jackal is a pack animal! It does not live alone, and, for example, a lynx is unlikely to attack three or four jackals. The big cat has little hope here!
How about the organisation of hunting in Latvia? Should something be changed?
Greater cohesion and stronger, louder support on important issues is needed! Definitely! It would be good if, in discussion forums or on social networks, we, the hunters, would supplement and support each other, not tear each other down! That is my dream!
Regarding changes – everything is good and useful if it is aimed at the unity, development and strengthening of the organisation. Changes cannot be divisive! It happens that many want to be “bosses”, but the work of organising hunting requires time and a full contribution. Many will find things to do – doers are welcome to help! Everyday life takes up a lot of time and worry, even if just in refuting nonsense and untruths.
There are many hunters, we are 23,000, but – when it is time to unite and support our ideas, we see that only a few are working 24 hours a day. The rest are passive observers who watch and wait: What will happen? Which way will the scales tip? I would like more activity and support from our own people!
There is great power in hunters! I feel this spark of strength and unity every year in “Münchhausen”! I remember it when sometimes my strength fades and my hands drop, then the thoughts themselves give vigour!
How would you compare the hunters of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania?
The Estonians are the most successful of the three Baltic states because they have kept the old system: all hunters are forced to join hunting organisations in order to be able to hunt. The situation in Latvia is good, we have two leading hunting organisations, we complement each other and cannot allow ourselves to be lazy. We “are parallel”, but we work – for! For the benefit of hunters!
In Lithuania, the situation is sad because their hunters have split into six organisations, all of which have strong leaders who consider themselves the only true and correct ones! Because of these circumstances, Lithuania has slightly fallen out of international circulation…