Dairy farmer searches for escaped heifer Unssi in Southern Lapland

A dairy farm in Southern Lapland has been on the lookout for Unssi, a heifer that escaped about a month ago. According to the owner, Aleksi Kortesalmi, the animal is believed to be hiding close to home. A recent search party found fresh tracks in the forest surrounding the farm, but no sighting of Unssi.

Kortesalmi noted that the dense forestry complicates the search. However, with the hunting season underway and hunting dogs allowed to roam freely, he is optimistic that Unssi might soon be located. Earlier reports from Yle indicated that a sighting had occurred in the Oijärvi-Lamminperä area; however, Kortesalmi clarified that this sighting was not of Unssi but of a different heifer belonging to another farmer.

Unssi’s escape is notable as she is the first cow to have gone missing in such a manner. While some cattle from the farm occasionally wander off, they are usually tame enough to approach humans. Unssi was purchased from another farm where, according to Kortesalmi, she hadn’t been properly socialized.

He explained that raising a dairy cow involves significant interaction from an early age to make them accustomed to people. Unssi is now so wild that she is no longer suitable for milking, as her behavior has become aggressive. Once she is found, the plan is to euthanize her, as it is unsafe to approach her in the wild.

Unssi is a red Ayrshire with minimal white markings and has an identification tag with the number 311 in her right ear. Any sightings of her should be reported to emergency services, with police prepared to intervene if Kortesalmi cannot reach her first.