Bjørn, stedsidentitet og trygghet: Om hvordan et lokalsamfunn forholder seg til bjørn

Abstract

The management of large predators - wolves, bears, wolverines and lynx - is causing widespread debate in the Norwegian society. Statistics show that the majority of the Norwegian population supports the policy of growing numbers of large predators within the national borders. Simultaneously the government has a political goal of maintaining a relatively dispersed pattern of settlement throughout the country.

This thesis is concerned with how local people experience living in close proximity to bears. The empirical data is generated trough qualitative interviews with thirteen residents of a municipality which has a growing bear population. The main findings of the analysis are twofold: The first part shows how the increasing number of bears in the area affects the identity of a place and the identity of the people who live there. The second part focuses on how bears affect the way people use places and their perceived level of safety.