THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Changes to Finland's wolf hunting laws halted population growth, Luke says Estimated wolf numbers are the same this year as last year, chiefly as a result of Finnish authorities controversially lifting a ban on wolf hunting at the beginning of 2026.

Finland to allow wolf hunting in 2026 as environmental groups criticise ... Finland to allow wolf hunting in 2026 as environmental groups criticise move Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Amendments to Finland’s Hunting Act will allow wolf hunting during restricted periods based on regional quotas, set by its Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. PHOTO: REUTERS Published Dec 29, 2025, 10:45 PM Updated Dec 29, 2025, 11:09 PM Set as preferred source Listen HELSINKI – Finland will allow limited hunting of wolves in 2026 to manage their growing population, repealing year-round protections that had been in place since 1973. Amendments to Finland’s Hunting Act will allow wolf hunting during restricted periods based on regional quotas, set by its Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The hunting period has been proposed to take place from Jan 1 to Feb 10 in 2026, with the final decision on dates expected on Dec 30. Previously, the killing of wolves had been permitted only when they posed a risk or caused severe damage. The Bill, which passed the country’s Parliament easily in December, could also relax strict rules on hunting lynx and bears, though a final decision…

Finland Set to Resume Wolf Hunting, Environmental Groups Push Back Date: January 7, 2026 Author: ATN All Things Nordic 0 Comments Created for ATN with Google AI Finland is preparing to reintroduce regulated wolf hunting next year, a move that has sparked strong opposition from environmental organisations and reopened a long-running debate over wildlife protection, rural livelihoods, and compliance with European conservation law. Under a proposal approved by the Finnish government, wolf hunting would once again be permitted through a quota system, effectively rolling back protections that have been in place since 1973. If confirmed, the new hunting season would run from 1 January to 10 February 2026, with final dates still subject to approval. Hunting would be limited by regional quotas, marking a shift away from the current framework that allows wolves to be killed only when an individual animal poses an immediate danger or causes significant damage. According to the government, at least 65 wolves could be legally culled during the upcoming winter season. Authorities argue that the measure is necessary to manage a growing wolf population and to reduce conflicts with local communit…

Finland to allow wolve hunting again after law change Saturday June 27, 2026 Where accuracy is dealt with acumen Published : 20 Nov 2025, 21:01 Finland will once again allow hunting of wolves from January 2026, ending more than five decades of strict protection for the species, reported Xinhua. The government on Thursday submitted a bill to parliament seeking to repeal the 1973 law that banned wolf hunting nationwide. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah told a press conference that the measure was needed to address rising public safety concerns. "In some areas, taxis have been arranged to transport schoolchildren to avoid encounters with wolves," she said. Under the proposal, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry would set regional hunting quotas and define restricted periods when wolves cannot be hunted. Essayah said the government aimed for "a long-term and balanced solution" to control risks posed by wolves, noting increasing losses of livestock, particularly sheep, in recent years. According to the Finnish Natural Resources Institute (Luke), Finland had an estimated 400 to 465 wolves in September, up from about 300 two years earlier. The …

Wolf population in Finland jumps 46 percent, prompting renewed hunting ... Natural Resources Institute Finland: Finland’s wolf population growing strongly. Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva Domestic Previous Article OP Uusimaa starts restructuring talks, up to 70 jobs at risk Next Article Teenage boy shot multiple times in Helsinki stairwell Tools Print Typography Font Size Default Reading Mode Finland’s wolf population has grown sharply over the past year, reaching its highest level in decades. The Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) estimates that as of March 2025, the country had approximately 430 wolves, a 46 percent increase from the previous year. The estimate was published on Tuesday following expanded data collection efforts, including field observations, DNA sampling, and mortality records. Luke says the growth is particularly concentrated in Southwest Finland, with the majority of known wolf territories now located in western parts of the country. The number of established wolf territories has also risen. As of March, there were 76 territories identified nationwide, up from 59–64 the previous year. These include 57 family packs and 19 confirmed pairs. Most of the gr…

Wolf hunting - Suurpedot.fi Wolf hunting is only really possible when there is snow on the ground. The tracks in the snow tell the hunters where the wolves have settled for the day. When their location is known, the wolves are encircled in a circle that is large enough to ensure that the wolves are not scared off too early. When it is certain that the wolves have been completely surrounded, the encirclement is marked with flag line. Wolves are most often hunted with the aid of flag line; a twine with small flags attached to it at even intervals. Wolves are usually afraid to cross this line and it is used to encircle them. The flag line is put in place by two hunter patrols moving upwind in opposite directions. The hunter who goes first releases the line from a spool and the second hunter sets the line at the appropriate height. When the flag line has totally surrounded the wolves, the encirclement can be tightened to suit the needs of the hunt, depending on the terrain. The flag line can be made more effective with scents. Instead of the traditional flag line, hunters can also use plastic ribbon that moves easily in the wind and is easier to handle than flag line. Shooters posi…

Changes to Finland's wolf hunting laws halted population growth, Luke ... Finland's wolf population has remained at the same level as last year, according to preliminary population figures published by the Natural Resources Institute (acronymed as Luke in Finnish). This stabilisation in the numbers follows a few years of rapid population growth, including a near 50 percent increase last year , which led to Finnish authorities controversially lifting a ban on wolf hunting at the beginning of this year. The law change permitted the hunting of wolves in certain regions during a six-week period between 1 January and 10 February, and resulted in an estimated death toll of 82 wolves. According to Luke's latest figures, there are currently about 430 wolves in Finland, and 77 wolf territories. This is roughly the same amount as in 2025. Luke said in a statement that the hunting quota appears to have halted the growth of Finland's wolf population. However, the institute further noted that the true effects of the lifting of the hunting ban will only become apparent in the long term. Open image viewer Finland's wolf population has been growing steadily for years. Image: Lassi Rautiainen / Ar…

After 50 years of protection, Finland authorizes wolf hunting once again ©Milo Weiler via Unsplash Jan 09, 2026 16:00 After more than fifty years of total (or almost total) protection, Finland has decided to authorize wolf hunting as from early 2026. This decision stems from the need to contain a rapidly growing population and reduce conflicts with farmers, hunters and rural communities. The measure has been approved by Parliament and represents a significant change from the previous approach, which relied solely on exceptional culls. 12 wolves already killed The amendments to the Finnish Hunting Act provide for a limited and strictly controlled season. The proposed period runs from January 1 to February 10, 2026, with final confirmation to be made by the competent authorities. Wolf hunting will be authorized exclusively on the basis of specific permits, issued at regional level by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. According to government estimates, at least 65 wolves could be shot over the winter, with 12 already killed on the first day of hunting. Any intervention will have to comply with strict quotas, rigorous controls and severe penalties in the event of infringe…

After 50 years, Finland has authorized wolf hunting: 65 specimens can ... After more than fifty years of almost total protection, Finland has decided to reauthorize regulated wolf hunting starting from the beginning of 2026. The choice arises from the declared need to contain a rapidly growing population and to reduce conflicts with breeders, hunters and rural communities. The provision was approved by Parliament and substantially modifies the previous approach based on only exceptional reductions. Already 12 wolves killed on the first day Changes to the Finnish Hunting Act provide for a limited and strictly controlled season. The proposed period runs from 1 January to 10 February 2026, with a final confirmation entrusted to the competent authorities. Wolf hunting will be permitted exclusively through special permits, issued on a regional basis by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. According to government estimates, at least 65 wolves could be killed during the winter with 12 already killed on the first day alone. Each intervention must respect strict quotas, with strict controls and severe sanctions in case of violations. A rapidly increasing population The basis of the de…