Finland approves 182 bear hunting permits for eastern and central regions

Finland’s Wildlife Agency has granted permits to hunt 182 bears this autumn in the eastern and central population management areas outside the reindeer herding region, Yle reports.

The agency received 37 applications and approved 17, rejecting 20. The decisions were guided by a Supreme Court ruling, with rejections based on insufficient grounds for issuing permits in the applied areas.

The cull aims to reduce the bear population to lower safety risks and prevent property damage.

North Karelia received the most permits, allowing 118 bears to be hunted. Southeast Finland follows with 24, South Savo with 14, Kainuu with 9, North Savo with 8, and Central Finland with 9. No permits were issued for Oulu, Ostrobothnia, or North Häme.

Finland’s bear population has tripled since the 2000s, with estimates of 2,201–2,962 bears outside the reindeer herding area. Within that area, hunting quotas set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry allow 85 bears to be hunted in the 2026–2027 season.

The hunting season begins on 20 August, though appeals may yet delay implementation, as in previous years. The last bear hunt outside the reindeer herding area took place in 2023.