Swedish authorities have declared the polar owl regionally extinct, after a decade without observation. The species is considered vulnerable globally.

Sweden has declared the snowy owl 'regionally extinct', being the first bird species to officially disappear from the country in the last two decades. The last observed specimen was in 2015, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified it as globally vulnerable, estimating that between 14,000 and 28,000 specimens still exist in the wild.

The causes of extinction include hunting, habitat destruction through deforestation and real estate development, as well as the climate crisis, which affects food sources such as lemmings. Although at the European level the species is considered to be at low risk, specialists warn that the situation could be more serious than official data suggests. The snowy owl, known for its white plumage and hunting abilities, has been a symbol of northern wilderness, but now faces severe threats due to climate change.