Wild inhabitants of the Lapland Fells

Several wild species inhabit Lapland’s natural environment. However, they love their own peace and quiet so much that they are highly elusive.

On the other hand, if you pay close attention and are lucky, you may see their tracks or the remnants of an old burrow when out in the natural landscape.

Wolwerine (Gulo Gulo)

One of the most inquisitive animals living in the forest, the wolverine has a life of continuous exploration. Wolverines often don’t kill their own prey but feed on carrion leftover by other predators. When eating, the wolverine voraciously gulps its food down. This was the inspiration for the animal’s name in Finnish, ahma, which is derived from the word “ahmatti”, or glutton. But the wolverine is still a predator and can easily kill other animals, such as reindeer. 

Bear (Ursus Arctos)

Finland’s national animal and king of the forest in its own right; in the past, the bear has even been considered a holy animal. The fact that the Finnish language has over 200 names for the bear speaks volumes about Finns’ respect for the animal. In the summer, the omnivorous bear fills up on berries, grain, fish, birds and even moose. It spends the winters hibernating in its warm burrow. 

Wolf (Canis Lupus)

The wolf is perhaps the most feared animal to roam the Finnish forests, even though wolves are so careful to avoid humans that it is almost impossible to run into them in the wild. Wolves are highly social animals that communicate with their packs using gestures, facial expressions, body positions and sounds, such as howling. So howling is not a response to the full moon, as the stories claim. Biologically, wolves belong to the same group of species as domesticated dogs. 

You can also get to know the animals of the north on a number of guided tours.