Finland: Brown Bears & Wolverines Pre-trip

Brown Bear © Finnature

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

This tour offers probably the best opportunity in the world to observe the seldom seen Wolverine, which visits, virtually daily, a remote baited viewing area, from the comfort of a spacious, well-planned log cabin. While at the lovely remote Boreal Center we will enjoy unforgettable close encounters with massive European Brown Bears from within a well-constructed bear blind, always standing a slight chance for a special observation of either Gray Wolves, European Polecat, or the gorgeous European Lynx, which may occasionally come in to the feeding stations. Past tours have observed a single Wolf and a Polecat!

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, centered on a comfortable spacious log cabin and large bear blind, 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 European Brown Bear is the largest predator in Europe and only slightly smaller than a Grizzly. 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, these bears are very 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, and 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, Western House Martin, European Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Eurasian Blue and Great tits, Redwing, Red Crossbill, Tree Pipit, Eurasian Bullfinch, and Eurasian Siskin. The hide’s baits usually attract Hooded Crow, Common Ravens, and an interesting assortment of European gulls. Less regularly, enormous White-tailed or Golden eagles and Black Kites grace the stage. Other species seen around the blinds could include Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Taiga Bean Geese, Western Capercaillie, and Black Grouse.

Exceptionally easy birding and road transport by comfortable minibus on mostly good roads; walking very easy on flat terrain; accommodations excellent to good; 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 good sandwiches and plenty of snacks; entry to observation blinds in midafternoon with departure at 8 am the next morning, allowing for a good full breakfast and morning break with resting time in the comfortable lodge; rather variable climate with temperatures ranging from generally cool to cold; mostly sunny periods but can alternate with overcast weather and possible light rain.

Wolverine with food © Andrew Whittaker