Young bear wanders into town centre in Ruovesi

A young bear was spotted roaming the streets of Ruovesi town centre on Thursday evening, prompting a public safety alert, according to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Authorities issued the warning at around 10 p.m. local time after the bear was seen moving between the Ritoniemi and Harakkala districts. The alert was lifted just before midnight when the animal left the populated area, heading westward into the forest.

Wildlife specialist Tomi Nippola confirmed the bear was a juvenile, roughly 1.5 years old, likely searching for its own territory after being driven away by its mother. “It’s very small, just a cub,” he said. While bear sightings near Ruovesi are not uncommon, Nippola noted this was the first time one had ventured into the town centre—just 400 metres from the local S-market supermarket.

The bear was first spotted by Mikko Mäkinen’s family on Thursday evening. Mäkinen initially doubted his wife’s claim but soon saw the animal from an upstairs window, grazing near their home. Startled by noise, the bear quickly retreated into the woods. Mäkinen’s five-year-old son, Kaapo, asked his father, “Was that a real bear?”

Local police, assisted by wildlife officers, searched for the bear using dogs and drones but found no further signs of it by nightfall.

Finland’s bear population has grown significantly in recent years, with estimates now ranging between 2,200 and 2,800 animals nationwide. Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere, including in Leppävirta, Kitee, and Oulu, where young bears—recently separated from their mothers—have wandered near homes in search of food or territory.