Saimaa seal population reaches 545 as mild winters slow recovery

About 545 endangered Saimaa ringed seals live in Lake Saimaa, up 15 from last year, according to a new population estimate from Metsähallitus, reported by Yle. Mild winters and deaths in fishing gear are slowing the population’s recovery.

An estimated 116 pups were born this year, two more than last year. As many as 90 per cent of the observed pups were born in artificial snowdrifts or artificial nests.

About 13 per cent of pups are estimated to have died in their nests. The actual figure is likely higher: poor snow conditions left many pups without a nest soon after birth, removing protection from predators, among other threats.

The estimate is based on the number and locations of nests found during surveys and the number of pups observed. As winters have become milder, surveyors have changed their approach. Last winter, they mainly checked artificial snowdrifts and nests instead of systematically surveying shorelines.

Metsähallitus says it will continue developing its methods through a new Life project, with the aim of eventually using a mathematical model that draws on a wider range of monitoring data. Deaths in fishing gear have also multiplied in recent years.

The seal population has grown steadily since the 2010s, thanks to extensive and varied conservation measures. Seals are now found across almost all of Saimaa, with recent sightings in lakes and ponds connected to it, as well as at the edges of their range. Metsähallitus says the sightings point to seals returning to former habitats.