Finland's Iconic Mammals

The boreal forests of eastern Finland come to life in June. The snows have all melted, the rich array of plants are growing at breakneck speed and migrants are busy trying to raise a new family. The summer sun barely dips below the horizon before rising up above a seemingly endless sea of trees. However, it is the large mammals that draw me back year after year. The chance to see and photograph some of Europe’s last large predators is unique and incredibly rewarding. 

And so in 2023, I led back-to-back tours to Kuikka, where there are several purpose-built hides for photographers. We were blessed with some incredible weather, although this likely reduced the activity at the hides and the majority of my time there was spent with the sun shining and big blue skies. 

We were able to visit two different locations and utilise several different hides during our time, but as per previous years, ‘Paradise’ proved to be incredibly productive for grey wolf. The pack dynamics are constantly changing, but a few different wolves were particularly cooperative, providing stunning close approaches and wonderful photographic opportunities. From full-frame portraits to beautiful environmental shots, our groups were rewarded for their hours of patience.

Staying in a hide overnight is the only way to see and photograph these elusive mammals. The lack of sleep is certainly something to consider, but it is well worth it when you are lucky enough to have a wild wolf approach within 10 metres of where you are sat. 

The wolves are only one of three species making this area particularly special. The other species which is usually reliable is the brown bear. The border zone with Russia is home to a large population of bears, and they regularly visit the hides in search of an easy meal. Both trips were treated to close-up views of brown bears in the depth of the forest. Although the light can be challenging here, the photographic rewards are exceptional and the groups were rewarded with some stunning photography opportunities.

Finally, the wolverine, arguably the most elusive and certainly the rarest of the three target species, is often at the top of the list. They are certainly the most challenging to photograph. The wolverine rarely stays still for too long, and it typically arrives at the darkest hours of the night. We had excellent views on one of the tours, but unfortunately, it eluded us on the second trip. We saw two wolverines on the first departure, including one youngster and a gnarly old individual, who both posed perfectly for all the group. 

So 2023 was another excellent year at the hides of Kuikka. We had incredible views of some of Europe’s rarest mammals, and the weather was hard to beat. Join us in 2024 as we go in search of bears, wolves and wolverines once again. 

If you'd like to learn more about our photography tour to Finland, our friendly team are more than happy to help - contact them today.