Wolf sighting reported in Kirkkonummi raises safety concerns in Finland

Several sightings of a wolf were reported this morning in Kirkkonummi, Finland. Anne Sailo, a resident of Pilvijärvi, encountered the animal around 7:30 AM while walking her two dogs. The wolf appeared on the same path, and she noticed it when she turned to check why one dog had fallen behind.

Upon seeing the wolf at the edge of the road near the lake, Sailo positioned herself to avoid having her back to the animal and chose to head home instead of continuing her walk. As her dogs started barking and charged toward the wolf, it initially backed away but then came closer, just a few meters away. Sailo described the encounter as lasting between two to three minutes.

The wolf approached boldly several times, prompting Sailo to make noise and clink the ends of her leash to deter it, fearing for her dogs’ safety. As she walked home, an approaching car caused the wolf to retreat into nearby woods. According to Sailo, the wolf did not growl or show any aggression during the encounter and seemed curious, as if looking for a companion among the dogs.

Markus Ramstedt from the Western Uusimaa Police confirmed the morning sightings near the Kantvik area. Police advised Kantvik School staff to keep students indoors during recess until it was determined the wolf had moved on, which it did without further incidents. Police continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the Finnish Game Agency, suspecting that the same wolf has been sighted moving from Pilvijärvi toward Kantvik.

Previous wolf sightings have occurred in the area, and concerns about their behavior have escalated, as an order was issued in late October to euthanize a wolf in Kirkkonummi due to its reduced wariness of humans.