Farmer in Ranua fears for missing heifer as search efforts yield no results

A dairy farmer in Ranua, Aleksi Kortesalmi, is deeply concerned about a missing heifer that vanished without a trace in July. Despite efforts to locate the animal, there have been no sightings or updates since the last reported observations in August. Initially, Kortesalmi was hopeful that the heifer, named Unssi, would be found quickly after moose hunting began in early September, but that has not been the case.

“The last sightings were made a couple of months ago, and since then, there have been no signs of her,” Kortesalmi stated. He has actively searched the nearby forests but has had no luck. “I have been combing the woods almost every day with my dog, but there are no traces,” he added.

The heifer’s timid nature complicates the search process. She is fearful of humans and is likely to flee at the slightest sound. “She hasn’t approached anyone. When a cow spends time in the woods, she can become wild and startle easily, even from familiar faces,” Kortesalmi explained.

Determining the fate of the heifer is of utmost importance to him. He fears that the animal may have fallen victim to a predator, as a bear has been spotted in the nearby area, which has already killed sheep and possibly reindeer. “It’s hard to say what her ultimate fate is. Is she still alive or not? Given the lack of evidence, it’s likely she may not be,” he lamented.

While the loss represents a financial setback for Kortesalmi, he considers the potential loss of Unssi as a dairy cow, which could lead to more significant financial implications. “Whenever you lose an animal, you are talking about thousands of euros.” However, he emphasizes that uncovering her fate is more important than the monetary loss and is hopeful that winter’s snow will reveal clues. “We can’t say for sure until a body is found, but there’s a small chance she may still be alive,” he concluded optimistically.