Video: Bears in the crosshairs once again after court lifts years-long hunting ban
The ruling permits the culling of a total of 182 bears under specific regional quotas, with the season open until the end of October.
Bears in Finland are once again open to hunting in certain areas, following a court ruling that lifted a two-year ban. The hunting season will run from 20 August to 31 October, with a total of 182 bears to be culled under regional quotas. The Supreme Administrative Court dismissed legal appeals on the grounds that bear hunting is necessary to prevent property damage and ensure public safety.
Most permits are concentrated in eastern and central Finland, with North Karelia receiving the most at 118. Human encounters with bears have increased due to the growing bear population, estimated at 2,400 individuals by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). Hunting advocates welcome the decision, while conservation groups criticize the court's ruling for potentially violating EU directives on native species protection.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
