European Brown Bear (Jan Kelchtermans)

One evening during our second 2026 Finland's Mammals tour made wildlife-watching history! Operations Manager, Tom Mabbett, spoke to our expert naturalist leader, Jan Kelchtermans, to find out more about it.

'For the first time in the 28-year history of the hides, all four of Finland's large carnivores – Brown Bear, Wolf, Wolverine and Eurasian Lynx – were seen in a single evening' writes Jan. 'Even more remarkably, all four species appeared within the space of just two hours, making this a truly unprecedented event!

Bears were once again the most frequently encountered of the large carnivores, providing prolonged, close-range views in excellent light on both tours. Most were adult males, although the first departure also produced memorable sightings of a female with two cubs.

Wolves were also seen on both tours, providing exceptional photographic opportunities. During the first trip, we watched an alpha pair interacting with two younger animals, witnessing territorial marking, family dynamics and even encounters with bears. The dominance of the breeding pair was evident as they were consistently the first to feed.

The elusive Wolverine was seen during the second tour, which retreated into the safety of the bush whenever the bears or wolves were nearby. I have often witnessed wolves chasing wolverines away, sometimes forcing them to seek refuge in the trees. The appearance of a Eurasian Lynx later that evening completed the quartet, creating a milestone that had never before been achieved at the hides.'

'The remaining target mammals also performed superbly. A Siberian Flying Squirrel was seen on both visits to its nest box, with the second providing wonderful views as it peered from the entrance before gliding effortlessly across a nearby garden. Forest Reindeer appeared twice in the same meadow, while Moose were seen regularly, including an impressive eleven different individuals in a single evening.

The endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal was seen during the first tour, although sadly windy conditions on the second boat excursion made sightings of this species impossible.

Birdlife provided an excellent supporting cast throughout. Common Cranes were a familiar sight in the meadows between our various wildlife hotspots, while White-tailed Eagles regularly patrolled the carnivore feeding sites around Kuhmo. Numerous Ospreys were already tending nests with large chicks, and other Scandinavian specialities included Black Woodpecker, Hazel Grouse, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe and Rustic Bunting.

It was another unforgettable fortnight in Finland, crowned by one of the most remarkable evenings in the history of the hides.'

We hope you can join us in 2027! View the tour details together with dates and prices here.

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