Bear euthanized in Rautavaara after repeated returns to residential yard

In Rautavaara, a bear that had been seen roaming around residential yards in recent days was shot on Monday. The police made the decision to euthanize the bear after it returned to a yard once again that day. Over several days, the bear had been attracted to an area on Marjomäentie by beehives. The police had initiated a removal decision on Saturday.

On Sunday, the bear killed a hunting dog while the Rautavaara Game Management Association was attempting to drive it away as part of their wildlife assistance efforts. Eventually, the bear was driven over five kilometers away. However, on Monday morning, it returned once more to the same yard. Attempts to scare it away were made in the morning; when those efforts proved ineffective, the police opted to put the bear down.

The large male bear, weighing 260 kilograms, was shot on Monday afternoon about 2.5 kilometers from the yard it was trying to return to. The Eastern Finland police noted that the bear’s behavior during both removal attempts was unusual, as it persisted in returning to the same location despite the presence of dogs and people.

The police’s authority to act is based on the law governing police operations. Authorities stated that the bear had to be euthanized because an unafraid bear in an urban environment poses a danger to human life and health. The animal will be sent for examination at the Finnish Food Authority in Oulu.