Bear spotted near residential areas in Oulu as authorities attempt to drive it away

A bear was seen moving near populated areas of Oulu overnight, prompting multiple emergency calls and a joint effort by police and wildlife experts to remove the animal from the city, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported Monday.

Emergency services received several reports of bear sightings after midnight in the Vasaraperä, Kaakkurinkangas, and Tahkokangas districts. A police patrol later confirmed the animal’s presence near Kiilakiventie in Tahkokangas before it retreated into the forest toward Ii. No further sightings have been reported since.

Authorities consulted wildlife specialists, who assessed the bear to be a young, recently independent individual—often referred to as an “erasmus bear” in Finland. Police and wildlife response teams continue monitoring the situation and attempting to guide the animal away from urban areas.