Animals & Tracks

Norway’s forests and mountains are home to animals, birds and insects. Some are very shy — few people have ever seen the lynx. Others you meet more often: ptarmigan, fox, moose, hare, small birds. Even when you do not see the animal itself, it often leaves signs behind: footprints in snow, droppings that tell of its diet, browsing marks, hollow trees, gnawed branches.

Going out on a tur in nature is paying them a visit. It asks of us that we know how to behave.

When you meet an animal

If the animal has not noticed you, it can help to talk calmly so it gets the chance to register you and withdraw quietly. Never surprise an animal at close range.

If the animal does not move off, it may mean that it:

Is protecting young or territory nearby
Feels so threatened that it does not dare turn its back to you
Is wounded or sick

In all three cases the right thing is to withdraw calmly — preferably sideways, not straight backwards. Speak low and quietly. Never walk towards the animal or behave threateningly.

Livestock on pasture

Cows and sheep are often more unpredictable than wild animals — they are used to people without being afraid of them. Cows with calves can be dangerous. The most common advice:

Walk around the herd in a wide circle
If you must cross pasture, walk calmly and speak in a low voice
Do not let the dog off the lead through a pasture — even without permission, there is a dog-on-lead period (båndtvang) from 1 April to 20 August

If a cow or bull starts to move towards you, head for the nearest fence or woodland without running. Running triggers the chase instinct.

The wild reindeer and the marks of our visits

People out on a tur are a significant source of stress for wild animals. On the Hardangervidda the pressure is so great that wild reindeer avoid areas where more than around 30 people pass along a path over the course of a day (NINA). It means that a well-used trail in effect works as a barrier the animals will not cross.

The wild reindeer is classified as ‘near threatened’ on the Norwegian Red List for Species 2021 (Artsdatabanken). They are very shy, live in herds that move nomadically between grazing grounds, and have a good sense of smell that lets them detect people from a long way off. They are especially vulnerable from 15 April to 15 June — the calving season.

To reduce the strain on the wild reindeer:

Stick to marked trails — it reduces the area that human activity covers
Stop and let the animals pass if you see them
Keep your distance — use binoculars
Stay downwind so your scent does not reach them
Avoid being silhouetted against the sky — keep below the ridge line
Dog-on-lead (båndtvang) — even outside the statutory period, be considerate

Norway is home to the last wild reindeer populations in Europe. It is part of our natural and cultural heritage that calls for active protection — including from us out on a tur.

The reindeer — the mountain’s nomad →

Tracks — what they tell you

Even though you seldom see the animal itself, tracks can tell you a great deal:

Footprints — easiest to spot in snow or soft ground. Shape, size and gait pattern reveal the species.
Droppings (faeces) — tell you both the species and what the animal has recently eaten
Browsing marks — gnawed branches, bitten-off tips, scraped bark
Fraying — deer rub the softer ‘velvet’ skin off new antlers against trees and bushes
Antlers — deer shed their antlers each year; you can find them out in nature
Hollow trees — used by woodpeckers, squirrels, owls

Winter is the best season for tracks — snow preserves them perfectly. Summer tracks are fainter and take more practice to read.

Remember that you are only a visitor

Nature is not a backdrop we visit. It is the home of the animals, birds and insects that live there all year round. Going out on a tur means being a guest. Keep your distance. Show respect. Take your rubbish home. Follow the trail where you can.

These are simple rules, but they make the difference between being a useful guest and a nuisance to the residents of the home.

The animals on Snuitide

We have separate articles on these animals — their biology, where you find them, how to recognise their tracks:

The deer family

The predators

Small mammals

Reptiles and birds

Insects and spiders

Text: Snuitide (2022), revised 2026. The section on the wild reindeer’s habitat is based on material from Norsk Villreinsenter and NINA.

Key resources: Artsdatabanken — Norsk rødliste · Norsk Villreinsenter · Miljøstatus — vilt