Moose causes traffic concerns in Joensuu as police search continues

An adult moose roaming near residential areas caused additional work for the police in Joensuu on Monday. The emergency center received several reports throughout the morning regarding a moose that had wandered into the urban area. A police patrol also encountered the moose while on the road.

“The moose caused a few dangerous situations in traffic. The police are prepared to euthanize the animal if the situation requires it,” said Chief Inspector Markus Taskinen from Eastern Finland Police. The latest sighting of the moose was reported shortly after 1 PM. It was known to have wandered through areas including Vehkalahti, Niinivaara, and most recently, Rantakylä. Taskinen assessed earlier in the day that the moose may have returned to the wilderness, and the police are monitoring the situation.

By 5 PM, police were still searching for the moose in Vehkalahti. The last sighting was near the railway line. According to a police patrol contacted by Yle, the moose appeared to be distressed and could pose a danger to pedestrians and drivers.

The police situation center reported that large game assistance had been alerted for support. Officials indicated that the moose might be injured. There is no confirmation whether the moose sighted in the evening in Vehkalahti is the same one that was reported earlier in the day.

The article was updated on August 5 at 6:08 PM to include that police are still searching for the moose in Vehkalahti, with further updates made at 6:27 PM.