Hunters report increased bear activity in Inari region of Finland

This autumn in the Angelin area near Inari, three bears have already been hunted within a week, all within a radius of less than ten square kilometers. One of the hunters, Jussi Lehmuslehti, bagged his first bear this season during a moose hunting trip with friends. While on lookout, his dog’s behavior indicated something unusual, followed by strange noises from the forest, leading him to believe a bear was nearby.

After a brief search, Lehmuslehti spotted the bear about 50 meters away, its back turned towards him. “It turned to see what was coming. I immediately shot it in the side,” he recounted, shooting a second time when he concluded the bear wouldn’t flee far.

Another successful hunter, Tuomas Väänänen from Ivalo, also encountered a bear during a hunt at the end of August. He noted that all signs indicated it was time for a bear hunting trip, although weather conditions made it challenging. Upon reaching a sparse birch area, he saw a bear rising on its hind legs, likely feeding on berries. He quickly readied his gun and managed to shoot the bear before his dog arrived.

The unusual number of bears hunted in such a small area has been attributed to the local bear population, according to Ilpo Kojola, a researcher at the Natural Resources Institute Finland. He explained that two of the bears were males and one was female, suggesting breeding activity in the area, as females tend to be less mobile than males. The presence of skilled hunters also contributed to the higher number of successful hunts this season, Kojola commented.

Väänänen has now hunted multiple bears this autumn, including a recent one near Raja-Jooseppi. He shared that the rarity and value of such experiences drive his interest in bear hunting. “Bears are elusive, wise, powerful, and quick. They pose a significant challenge, which is what fascinates me,” he said.