Wildlife of the forests and boreal regions
Predators such as lynx, eagles and wolverines (beware, they're very dangerous!), still live in the heart of the country's immense eastern forests close to the Russian border.
The brown bear, once so feared that it was taboo to utter its name(karhu), remains the most impressive. Having regained its habitat since the desertification of the immense fir forests of Russian Karelia annexed at the end of the Second World War, it is no longer threatened with extinction. Specialized bear-watching excursions can be organized. Today, the bear, the country's totem animal, sees its population stagnate at around 2,000 head in 2019. This figure has been able to increase thanks in particular to the quota set for hunting. In 2019, for example, "only" 313 bears were allowed to be shot.
Wolves, on the other hand, have all but disappeared. Such is the ancestral hatred and fear of the animal in Eastern Finland that a wolf, once spotted, is immediately hunted down. There are around 250 wolves (2019 figures) in the country.
As forthe glutton, it's a little-known animal that has given its name to the expression "to eat like a glutton". And for good reason: this animal has a reputation for being a voracious carnivore. In 2019, the wolverine population is estimated at around 200 head. In fact, Finland is considered one of the best countries in the world for wolverine observation. Joseph Acerbi, referring to the glutton, wrote: "He seems to owe his bad bloody reputation to the great appetite he always has. [...] When it sees a reindeer within its reach, it jumps on its back, clings to it and digs in with its sharp teeth and elongated claws" A fearsome predator, the wolverine continues to get a very bad press, and we hope you don't come across it, as it's much less fearful than a bear... But don't worry, encounters with wolverines are rare.
The lynx is the fourth largest carnivore in the country and one of the rarest to be seen. There are around 2,000 individuals in Finland.
Reindeer face a number of predators, including the wolverine, a formidable enemy. The reindeer's diet consists of a variety of plants in summer, and lichens in winter, which they dig out of the snow with their very useful hooves. The large number of reindeer means that no special protection measures are required. In this area, man remains the most dangerous predator. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986 led to the slaughter of thousands of reindeer throughout the country, seriously damaging the food chain. In Lapland, reindeer herds gather for their annual migrations on the tunturis, mysterious heights that stretch as far as the eye can see. Several times a year (autumn and winter), the locals gather the reindeer(poroerotus) to sort and mark them, a spectacle not to be missed.
Elk are found throughout Finland. It has few natural predators and its population is regulated by hunting. There are around 100,000 elk, an impressive animal with antlers, whose males can weigh up to 700 kg. Quotas are based on the number of calves born in May and June of the same year.
The arctic fox is also fairly common, as is the beaver. In a smaller category, see also hedgehog, muskrat, marten, otter and hare. Finland's only venomous snake is the viper(kyy), whose antidote(kyypakkaus) can be found in pharmacies.
The seal living in Lake Saimaa, whose species is practically extinct, is protected by law. To raise awareness of the need to preserve the species, WWF has set up a webcam system to launch a live channel called Norppalive. "The aim of Norppalive is to encourage the public to become increasingly aware of the presence and life of the Saimaa ringed seal, and to increase collective motivation to protect the species".
Lapland's waters are also home to a wealth of wildlife. Renowned as home to one of the world's largest salmon fishing grounds, the region's hydrographic network is also home to trout, burbot and perch.
Birdwatchers will not be outdone. Numerous varieties of birds (wild ducks, hawks, owls, etc.) can be seen in the Lapland skies. Unfortunately, global warming is having a significant impact on birds. Winter 2020, with its particularly mild temperatures, has encouraged birds not to migrate: mild temperatures and waters that don't freeze mean they don't need to leave. To give you an idea, January was between 7 and 8 degrees warmer than the seasonal average.
The flora
The flora is particularly rich during the summer months, from late May to September, with flowerbeds from the fields to the heart of the birch forests. Wild berries and mushrooms invade provincial markets in autumn. There are also plenty of currants, bilberries, lingonberries and the curious lakka, polar berries with a distinctive taste that resemble yellow raspberries. On the other hand, Lapland's flora is less diverse than its fauna. The harsh climate makes it difficult for plants and flowers to thrive.
In this respect, the snow-covered peaks in winter are merciless and almost always covered with patches of ice, even in summer. Forests at lower altitudes are dominated by spruce, pine and birch. Marshy areas are covered with exuberant flora in spring, including reeds and flowers.
In Lapland, once you cross the Arctic Circle, you're gripped by the feeling of being at the end of the world. Beyond this fascinating latitude, the Far North stretches out, shrouded in legends in which the Saami still see in the nebulous enchantment of the aurora borealis the "lights of the fox spirit". As we climb northwards, the dwellings become rarer, the pine and birch forests lighten and give way to the immensity of the boreal tundra, where the undulating domes of the peaked mountains, the tunturis, grow only lichen and moss. Beyond the tree line, juniper and birch become dwarfed. In a landscape of endless marshes, the crystal-clear meanders of a thousand watercourses. The immensity of these marshes is dominated, in the distance, by the blue of the peaked mountains.
