Finland’s bear population is growing steadily following a decision to cut hunting quotas in 2022, according to new data from Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Luke estimates there are now around 2,400 bears in Finland, an increase of 10–20 percent over recent years. The population had previously dropped to between 1,740 and 1,925 bears in 2022, following several years of expanding hunting allowances.
The turnaround came after authorities revised hunting policies to support the bear population, which had declined by about 20 percent between 2021 and 2022.
Luke said in a report on Tuesday that it expects the bear population to continue growing over the coming years.
For the first time, the institute used a new model to estimate the bear population. Katja Holmala, Luke’s Programme Director, explained that the model incorporates reproductive biology, lifespan data, and a broader database than earlier methods.
Unlike the previous model, which relied solely on litter observations from a single year, the new system combines sighting data collected since 2004 and information about the age and gender of hunted bears.
Holmala noted that the model is still under development but will be refined further to strengthen its accuracy.
Bear populations in Finland are particularly dense in the eastern regions, near the border with Russia, where natural habitats provide favourable conditions.
HT
