Finland's Mammals

Finland is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most wild and unspoiled countries. Travelling from Helsinki to Kuhmo, a small town not far from the Russian border in eastern Finland, we will search its lakes and taiga forest, and watch open glades, with the aim of finding Finland’s special mammals. We will be searching for such iconic species as Wolf, Wolverine and Brown Bear, the endemic Saimaa Ringed Seal, Siberian Flying Squirrel, Elk and the elusive Forest Reindeer, making it a very special holiday for any mammal enthusiast. We will also enjoy all other wildlife encountered, with birds present including Waxwing, Hazel Grouse, White-tailed Eagle and possibly even Great Grey Owl.

We will begin with a flight to the Finnish capital, Helsinki, and we shall spend our first night close to the airport but at a location with habitat on the doorstep and we seek to find Moose in the nearby fields on our first evening. The following day, we will travel towards the town of Vaasa, making stops along the way and this evening we shall attempt to see a very special species. The tiny Siberian Flying Squirrel. Here, in the far west of its range, its preferred habitat is a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest. With a flap of skin between their front and back legs, they are able to move around the forest by gliding from tree to tree. We may also see Capercaillie and Black Grouse, along with Common Crane, which often have young at this time of year, while lakes often hold Whooper Swans and Goldeneyes and Short-eared Owl often hunt the grasslands.

Next, we will drive eastwards towards Kuhmo and reaching the Russian border, we will spend our first night in a hide situated in the middle of Brown Bear, Wolf and Wolverine territories. Indeed, this hide lies within the core territory of a local Wolf pack which is gaining notoriety for stealing carrion from the bears. This means that, unusually, both species are regularly seen together on the same night, often enabling close views and excellent photographic opportunities of Europe’s most iconic predators. This is a truly remote region, in which wildlife still exists in relative freedom from human interference, and we will explore its expansive and unspoiled habitats, when not in the hide, on scenic walks and drives. One particular animal we hope to find is the Forest Reindeer. This is one of the largest subspecies of Reindeer, quite different from its smaller, semi-domesticated mountain relative, not least in its preference for dense taiga forest rather than open tundra. It can, of course, be more difficult to find this quiet forestdweller, but with expert guidance we shall hope for success, as well as the chance to see both Mountain Hare and Red Squirrel along the way. After our night in the hide we spend the following night in a nearby hotel as we explore the area.

Continuing, we will then spend two nights in a comfortable hide deep within the taiga forest. Our goal here will be to observe the world’s largest terrestrial mustelid, the iconic Wolverine, and we have an excellent chance of seeing one here. Wolverines are forever on the move, covering great distances each day. They are reticent animals that are wary of humans so, to encourage them to visit the hide, pieces of meat are carefully concealed by our host. Although they do not visit the hide every night, they are seen regularly throughout the summer months, with a peak in sightings from late June through to mid-July. The hide is spacious, with beds and comfortable seats, and in the long hours of daylight it is a case of being patient and watching late into the night in the hope of a sighting. We will use a comfortable hotel after our hide sessions here for refreshing and meals.

Our final night is spent near the spectacular Linnansaari National Park. Taking to the water, we will explore Lake Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland and one of the most beautiful in the world. Aided by our captain’s unrivalled knowledge of this huge island-dotted waterbody, we will look for the endemic Saimaa Ringed Seal, a unique subspecies of the Ringed Seal, and one of the only seals to inhabit freshwater. It is also one of the planet’s rarest pinnipeds, with just 300 or so individuals. We will also look out for Osprey, Black-throated Diver and Red-necked Grebe, with American Beaver and Elk both possible here too.

As we search for all these exciting mammals, we will naturally enjoy the birds that we come across. These may include such species as Waxwing, Brambling, Bullfinch, Great Grey Shrike, Redwing and Fieldfare, all of which breed in this region. The elusive Hazel Grouse may also be seen in these forests with a little luck, while the mighty White-tailed Eagle is always a possibility at wetland sites, where breeding Whimbrel, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff may be seen. In some years it may even be possible to see such species as Great Grey Owl.

Finally, we must conclude this unique itinerary, which offers the chance to enjoy some of Europe’s most rarely-seen mammals, as well as wild landscapes and special birds, with a flight from Kajaani back to London, via Helsinki.