Uninvited guests: crows and hawks make appearances in Finnish shops as temperatures drop

As temperatures drop, shops and shopping centers in Finland may find themselves playing host to uninvited guests. Reports last week highlighted a crow that wandered into a Tampere supermarket, while a chicken hawk was rescued from the Kamppi shopping center last fall. Animals frequently find themselves in the wrong locations, especially in autumn when they are often in search of food.

According to Tomi Kumpulainen, curator at the Tampere Natural History Museum, crows are particularly adept at scavenging. “Corvids are generalists; they eat just about anything. They are intelligent and resourceful, exploring their surroundings and trying various things,” he explained. Even during summer, chickadees that seek insects and winter residents that feast on bird feeders may venture indoors in search of food. In autumn, they investigate to see what’s available to eat or stash away for the coming months.

Animal rescue operations aren’t limited to specific seasons. Matti Syrjä, a fire chief, noted that the Pirkanmaa Rescue Service regularly responds to calls involving animals needing to be guided out of buildings, including squirrels and birds trapped in shopping centers or warehouses.

Animals usually enter these establishments through open doors or windows, particularly loading docks. However, coaxing them back outside can be challenging. “Birds tend to head toward light, and in large, lit spaces, they may not realize it’s time to leave,” Kumpulainen said. Rushing the animals often worsens the situation, causing them stress and panic.

Preventive measures, such as keeping doors closed and installing plastic strip curtains on loading docks, can help reduce these incidents.