Golden jackal migrates thousands of kilometers to Finland, revealing surprising origins and migration routes

One of Finland’s recent invasive species, the golden jackal, is believed to have traveled thousands of kilometers before arriving in the country. A few individual jackals have migrated to Finland from other parts of Europe. Genetic studies indicate that a jackal in Sodankylä traveled as much as 2,500 kilometers from Central Europe before reaching the north. Researchers from the University of Oulu investigated the origins and possible migration routes of three jackals. The other jackals in the study were from Tromsø, Norway, and the Iberian Peninsula in Spain. The Tromsø jackal may have origins tracing back to the Caucasus, suggesting it could have traveled 3,500 kilometers.

Together with researchers from Poland, Norway, and Spain, the team analyzed the origins and possible migratory paths of the three jackals encountered at the distribution’s edges. It was previously assumed that the jackal found in Sodankylä, which died, came from an already established population in the Baltic region. However, its home has now been traced to populations in Austria, Hungary, and Poland.

So far, seven sightings of the golden jackal have been confirmed in Finland, with the northernmost being in Ivalo. The first observation in Finland was recorded in Kajaani in 2018.

All the jackals studied were males and were new arrivals. The findings indicate that the species has spread from multiple source populations and can cover surprisingly long distances under various environmental conditions, establishing new packs in extreme climates. The golden jackal is a relatively small animal and typically avoids humans, though it may target sheep and poultry for food.

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is an invasive species that has established itself in Finland over time, with its first sighting in 2018. As a carnivorous omnivore, it feeds on rodents, frogs, and game animals, and its northward spread has been attributed to climate change. As an invasive species, it is protected under conservation laws and is not hunted.