Brown Bear Watching in Finland
BROWN BEAR WATCHING TO THE EASTERN BORDER
The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is the national animal of Finland. The Finnish population is estimated at around 1000 individuals, but despite this low figure it is still hunted. Without reinforcements from behind the Russian border, Finnish bears would long since have been hunted to extinction. Most bruins live in the large wilderness areas on the Russian side of the Finnish border. When the hunting season starts, many move back to the quieter Russian back country only to return in spring after hibernation.
Watching and photographing bears in Finland is possible. A good time is from the middle of April to the beginning of June when the bears have just awoken from their winter sleep. After this comes the rut, when eating is not the animals' main concern. The best viewing time lasts from the beginning of July to the middle of August, when feeding points again have plenty of bears to watch and photograph.
Finnature organises bear watching and photography tour packages to two different sites in the vicinity of the Russian border. The tours offer transport to the observation site from e.g. Oulu, Kajaani or Kuusamo, an expert guide with good language skills, as well as food, lodging, and hide reservations as required.
Tours usually last 3-4 days, with the first night usually at the lodgings. After a late lunch, the hides are usually entered around 4 p.m., where visitors spend the night watching the bears and taking photos. We return to the lodgings around 6-7 a.m. the following morning, where breakfast and beds will be waiting. During the day, visitors can make local walks near the lodgings.
Ask us for an offer, and we will see you get the tour package you desire to the haunt of the King of the Forest. Through our bear watching tours we also want to send a message to decision-makers that a photographed bear is much more valuable than a hunted one!
MARTINSELKONEN, SUOMUSSALMI
Martinselkonen nature reserve is situated in Suomussalmi municipality in the vicinity of the Russian border. It is ca. 300 km distant from Oulu and 100 km from Kuusamo. Bears have been fed here for ten years now, and on the best nights 15-20 different individual bears have visited the carcasses.
It is about 1,5km walk to the hide through a beautiful old-growth forest rich in birds. At Martinselkonen there are two log cabin hides situated in a well-lit place in Scotch Pine forest. with photography space for ten and six at a time. There are bunk beds, and a chemical toilet. In addition there are several professional photography hides for 2-3 photographers.
Meals and lodgings are at a former border patrol station. There are 5 rooms for 2-8 people each. Showers and toilets are in the passageway, and there is a common dining room.
Around the Martinselkonen forests we have hung nest boxes for Tengmalm's, Pygmy, and Ural Owls, and for some passerines such as Siberian Tit and Pied Flycatcher.
KUHMO
This site is situated in Kuhmo close to the Russian border - it is about 4 km to the border crossing point at Vartius - ca. 300 km from Oulu and 200 km from Kuusamo. Food and lodgings are at a refurbished former border patrol station. Accommodation is available in six rooms for a total of 19 people (2-4 people/room). Each room has a shower and toilet. The dining room seats 30.
The distance to the bear feeding site from the lodgings is about 1,2 km, approachable to within 200 metres by car. The feeding site has been maintained for two years now, and at best has held up to four bears visible at a time. The speciality of this site is a wolverine that shows up every now and then (27% chance to see it).
The photography cabins are located on a shallow slope and the feeding point itself in a boggy depression. The cabin windows give excellent views and are situated in good height. There are openings for camera lenses below the height of the viewing windows.
There are two large photography cabins located 30 metres distant from the feeding points. The cabins fit ten people with photography space for eight at a time. The cabins are excellent for general views of the bears and for obtaining photos of the animals with their natural habitat in the background.
There are several hides meant for professional photographers, located on a lakeside and in forest. These cottages take three people, with photography places for two at a time. The cabins give you real bear close-ups in different surroundings.
All cabins have cushioned seats adjustable to the horizontal, bunk beds, a chemical WC, and wash sinks.
