Hunting season sparks safety concerns for dogs amid rising wolf sightings in Finland

Concerns about wolves have intensified as the moose hunting season commenced in Finland today. Many hunters are now questioning whether it is safe to bring their hunting dogs into the woods. A total of over 34,000 hunting permits for moose have been issued nationwide by the Finnish Wildlife Agency, marking an expansion of the hunting activities that began progressively earlier this year.

In North Savo, the Metsola hunting club gathered forty hunters and four dogs at their lodge in Airaksela on Saturday morning to kick off the season. Club member Veli Huupponen emphasized the significance of this moment for moose hunting enthusiasts. While he has traditionally brought dogs along without hesitation, he notes a heightened caution due to increasing wolf sightings, monitored year-round using trail cameras and natural observation.

The number of reported incidents involving wolves attacking dogs rose to 65 last year, up from 52 in 2022 and 37 in 2021. This year, as of early October, there have already been 30 documented cases. Jaakko Sipola, the director of the Hunting Association of Finland, highlighted that the use of dogs in hunting has declined, especially in areas with high wolf populations such as Varsinais-Suomi and North Ostrobothnia.

He also noted that hunting dogs are less frequently being acquired due to fears around their safety during hunts. While some areas may have to wait until winter, when snow allows for tracking wolves, Huupponen believes that the use of so-called “drivers” instead of dogs is unlikely due to insufficient hunters to form tracking chains. Both he and Sipola stress the importance of ensuring that hunting with dogs remains viable in the future.