Young bears spotted near homes in Kouvola and Oulu

Young bears have been seen near residential areas in Kouvola and Oulu in recent days, with one captured on camera crossing a road in Kouvola’s Valkeala district on Sunday, according to a report by Yle.

Police in Kouvola confirmed multiple sightings over the weekend but stated the bear showed no aggressive behavior and did not approach people. Separately, authorities in Oulu received several reports on Monday of a bear moving near homes. Last week, police ordered the culling of a bear deemed dangerous in Äänekoski after it was seen near a daycare center, though it had not posed an immediate threat.

Antti Venho, large carnivore contact for the Valkeala-Kouvola wildlife management association, said such close encounters are unusual but not unheard of, particularly near summer cottages. He believes the animal was likely searching for food and shelter before moving on. “It may already be tens of kilometers away by now,” Venho said, recalling his own encounter with a bear that ignored his shouts and continued calmly on its path. “It’s an impressive sight—your pulse definitely rises.”

Samuli Heikkinen, a researcher at Finland’s Natural Resources Institute (Luke), explained that bears emerging from hibernation about a month ago are now compensating for food shortages. While highly adaptable, scarcity of early-season vegetation can drive them toward human settlements. The bears spotted in Kouvola and Oulu are likely yearling cubs, aged one to two, recently separated from their mothers.

“First-year cubs depend entirely on their mother,” Heikkinen said. “By the next spring, they may leave her completely or stay nearby. Inexperienced with humans, they can easily wander into populated areas.” Young males, in particular, may travel hundreds of kilometers in summer, with western bears ranging more widely than those in the east, possibly due to lower population density.

Venho warned that no bear is entirely harmless and advised securing food waste, such as fish offal, to avoid attracting them. If encountered, he recommended moving away calmly, as the bear will likely retreat. “If it behaves aggressively, don’t hesitate to call emergency services at 112,” he said.

Heikkinen expects bear activity to decline by summer as natural food sources become abundant, though some may target beehives for easy honey. Bear sightings more than doubled from 2024, partly because hunting has been suspended outside reindeer herding areas for two years. Sightings occur year-round, with the latest reports sometimes coming as late as December.