No danger alert issued for Jyväskylä bear that moved near daycare

Police did not issue a danger alert for a bear that was euthanized in Jyväskylä on Tuesday, despite the animal having moved near a daycare, Yle reports.

The bear, which had separated from its mother, was observed near residential areas in Muurame and Jyväskylä over several days. Police directly contacted daycare staff when the bear was close to the facility, and information about the animal spread on social media.

The bear was euthanized on police order after attempted scaring failed. It had entered private yards and was considered to pose a danger to people.

Police in the Internal Finland region said danger alerts are issued when deemed necessary. Mikko Jääskeläinen, a special expert at the interior ministry’s rescue department, recalled that when alerts for bears were issued more frequently some years ago, they often backfired. People would go to the area hoping to see the bear, he said.

Under Finnish law, many authorities can issue danger alerts, including all ministries, police, rescue services, emergency centres and the food authority. The law was last updated in spring 2025, adding municipal health protection rights following a water crisis in Espoo.

Most danger alerts concern fires releasing harmful smoke, Jääskeläinen said. He noted that recent focus on drone alerts had drawn attention, but alerts also cover toxic smoke, radiation, gas, and dangerous persons.

Danger alerts are always broadcast on Yle radio. Authorities may decide to also broadcast them on television, which makes them nationwide. Yle publishes alerts on its website, Text-TV, and Yle app, and they are also distributed via the 112.fi service. Alerts are expected to reach mobile phones by the end of this year.