Finland: Brown Bears & Wolverines Pre-trip

Brown Bear © Finnature

A unique chance to visit the remote Siberian Taiga forests of eastern Finland to observe one of the most mythical carnivores in the world, the extraordinary Wolverine, and also enjoy memorable close encounters with the most powerful apex predator, the European Brown Bear. Glorious Arctic settings offer a nice sprinkling of magical boreal birds as well. Excellent photographic opportunities.

This tour offers probably the best opportunity in the world to observe the seldom seen Wolverine, which visits, virtually daily, remote baited viewing hides. At the lovely remote Boreal Center we will be able to enjoy unforgettable close encounters with mighty European Brown Bears, all from the comfort of a spacious, well-planned log cabin and bear blind, where we even stand a slight chance for observations of wolves or the gorgeous European Lynx, which occasionally come in to the feeding stations.  

The Wolverine is a solitary and rare, extremely poorly-known animal that is always on the move. It resembles a small bear with a long tail. In Europe, Wolverines occupy northern habitats only in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia. They are primarily scavengers and can devour their food quickly in big chunks—their scientific name, Gulo, means glutton. A known 5–6 different individuals regularly come in to the blinds for food. 

Large carnivores are generally faring well in Finland, where vast areas of undisturbed wild Taiga Forest hold abundant prey. Our exciting mammal and bird watching tour is centered on two comfortable spacious log cabin blinds and will provide an unforgettable experience. Staying overnight during their peak feeding activity maximizes our chances of seeing and photographing multiple numbers of these awesome predators. The sun sets around 10 pm and rises at 4 am, but it does not really get dark at this time of year—excellent for wildlife viewing and photography.

The Brown Bear is the largest predator in Europe. It feeds on anything it can catch, ranging from berries to fish and mammals. Males can grow up to weigh 660 pounds. Despite their big size, Brown Bears are agile, and males can travel hundreds of miles in a short period of time. Females and cubs stay on smaller territories. Other animals we will be on the lookout for are European Roe Deer, Least Weasel, Eurasian Otter, Moose, Muskrat, or even a rarely seen wild Finnish Forest Reindeer.

This incredibly scenic area of Arctic Taiga offers a great variety of avifauna. Birds at the Bear Center include Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common House Martin, European Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Blue and Great tits, Redwing, Red Crossbill, Tree Pipit, and Eurasian Siskin. The hide’s baits usually attract Hooded Crow, Ravens, and an assortment of European gulls. Less regularly, enormous White-tailed or Golden eagles grace the stage, or Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Western Capercaillie, and Black grouse can pass by.

Exceptionally easy birding and road transport by comfortable minibus on mostly good roads; walking very easy on flat terrain; accommodations in excellent to good, modest hotel (for 2 nights) in a wilderness lodge; food good throughout; two excellent viewing blinds offer comfortable seating, bunk beds, pillows, and sleeping bags for resting, toilets and gas heaters (if necessary), plus snacks; entry to observation blinds in midafternoon with departure at 8 am the next morning, allowing for a good morning break and resting time in the comfortable lodge; rather variable climate with temperatures ranging from generally cool to cold; mostly sunny periods but can alternate with rainy, overcast weather.

Wolverine with food © Andrew Whittaker