Finnish police investigate seven cases of protected viper killings

Finnish police have opened at least seven investigations into the killing of vipers since the species was granted legal protection in June 2023, according to a report by Yle.

Most cases came to police attention through social media posts. None have resulted in charges, with authorities citing insufficient evidence or uncertainty over the perpetrator’s identity.

A Turku man killed a viper in his yard in late summer 2023, posting a photo on Facebook with the caption: “Now the first snake had come into the yard. The final result is there.” He later faced a police investigation for a suspected nature conservation violation.

Konsta Arvelin, a police inspector at the National Police Board, confirmed that seven viper killings have been investigated nationwide over three years. The common viper, Finland’s only venomous snake, carries a notional value of €70 under guidelines for state compensation claims.

In Helsinki, two cases were investigated after social media posts surfaced. One involved a video of a running power drill held over a viper; the snake was also prodded with a knife. Police classified the act as harassment rather than harm, and the suspect could not be identified.

Rikoskomisario Teppo Viljanen acknowledged that vipers are still being killed despite protection, but only a fraction of cases are reported. He noted that such offences are deprioritised relative to other investigations.

The Turku man told Yle he acted out of fear for his tethered cat and neighbouring children. He first tried to shoo the snake away, but it moved toward a nearby inflatable pool. Police dropped the case due to lack of evidence.

In Eura, a woman in her 60s received a police warning after killing a viper in summer 2024. She encountered the snake in a forest and claimed it posed a threat to her or her off-leash dog. Authorities determined she had violated nature conservation laws.

Finnish law still permits killing a viper in a residential area if relocation is impossible and the snake presents a danger.