Finland pays millions in annual reindeer compensation for large predator attacks

The Finnish state paid out nearly €10 million last year to reindeer herders for losses caused by large predators, with only a fraction of claims verified in the field, Yle reports.

Reindeer killed by predators reached record numbers across Finland’s herding regions in 2023, with nearly 7,000 reported cases. This year’s claims already exceed last year’s pace, with over 350 filed in the Tunturi-Lapland area alone—more than double the same period in 2024. The state budget has allocated €12 million for 2024 compensation, up from €10 million last year.

Wolverines blamed for surge in attacks

In the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area of Enontekiö, where compensation claims are highest, herders point to the protected wolverine as the primary culprit. Local reindeer owner Aslak N.T. Juuso, who has lost 50 reindeer to predators this year compared to 30 in all of 2023, described the attacks as indiscriminate: “It kills just for fun.”

Wolverine tracks near a carcass confirmed the predator’s presence, measured at 12 cm—indicating a mid-sized adult. Despite the damage, hunting permits in the Natura-protected area remain nearly impossible to obtain, as wolverine conservation was a key reason for the reserve’s establishment.

Field verifications rare due to remote locations

Under Finnish wildlife damage law, on-site inspections are required only when claims are unusually high, repeated, or concentrated in one area. In practice, few cases are verified in person.

A team from the Muonio Rural Agency, responsible for Tunturi-Lapland’s 30,000 reindeer across three municipalities, recently traveled four hours by car and snowmobile to investigate six claims in a single week. Rural chief Annika Leinonen and secretary Mirka Nivunkijärvi noted that fraudulent claims do occur, though most are legitimate.

At one site, a half-eaten reindeer carcass—missing its tongue and muzzle, with bite marks on the neck—lay in deep snow. Bloodstains and severed leg bones, used to determine cause of death, were visible. Investigators dug through meter-deep snow to uncover evidence, a process Leinonen compared to detective work.

Compensation system relies on photos and trust

Most claims are processed based on herders’ photographs and applications, with payouts ranging from €700 for a calf to thousands for a trained racing reindeer. The system’s vulnerability to abuse is acknowledged, but logistical challenges—such as carcasses located deep in wilderness—limit oversight.