Wildlife adapting to urban environments across Helsinki as minks disrupt local ecosystems

Cities are primarily built for human needs, but increasingly, wild animals are making urban areas their homes. “You can even see foxes in the heart of Helsinki, and I have spotted a raven cawing from the tower of Kallio Church,” says environmental expert Ari Turula from the City of Helsinki.

In April, a seal ventured onto the shore at Katajanokka, captured in a video by Olli Lindqvist. Additionally, a critically endangered black-throated diver built a nest at the constructed Palettilampi pond in Kuninkaantammi at the beginning of June. Despite the opening of the waterfront, the chicks appear to be doing well. “I was pleasantly surprised. I was a bit worried about how things would turn out once the beach opened. The chicks have been moving freely in the area and have boldly approached the swimming area,” Turula notes.

While it is positive that wildlife can adapt to urban environments, there are also drawbacks. Some animals migrate to cities due to the decline of their natural habitats in rural areas. More information on urban-dwelling species can be found in the magazine Luonnonsuojelija.

This week, a mink made an unusual appearance near a journalist at the breakwater in Herttoniemi, snatching food. Although it is typical for minks to remain hidden, Turula mentions that they are present but rarely seen. The environment and available food in East Helsinki attract them. “Herttoniemi is not a concrete jungle; there are plenty of green spaces and nearby wetlands. For example, the Saunalahti basin is certainly a favorable hunting ground for minks,” explains Andreas Lindén, a researcher at the Finnish Natural Resources Institute.

However, while seeing a mink may be memorable for city dwellers, it is an invasive species that disrupts bird populations, destroying nests and preying on adult birds. “It is a very effective predator, and our ecosystem is not adapted to it. In the archipelago, it has considerable impacts. One mink can eliminate almost the entire bird population on a skerry or small island,” says Lindén.

The City of Helsinki has received permission from the wildlife agency to manage minks and other harmful bird species in the archipelago, as well as at the nature reserves of Vanhankaupunginlahti and Östersundom. A special permit has also been granted for mink trapping during bird nesting season, despite restrictions in many areas. “If the mink population in the city grows significantly, it could affect the birdlife of the Helsinki archipelago,” warns Lindén.