Part one of midsummer hide watching in Finland in 2024

Despite unnaturally learned behavior in apex predators due to artificial bait, a night in a hide to observe large carnivores in no man’s land, is and remains spectacular. Moreover, no night is the same. With wolves and wolverines in the same area where brown bears appear, there is also a chance of observing interaction between these three different carnivores. In July 2024 we again were fortunate to witness three such encounters.

 The first atmospheric report of such an observation: horny bears together with howling wolves showing genuine affection.

At the start of our hide session, in the afternoon of July the 12^th 2024, we are entertained by the local avifauna, namely black kite, white-tailed eagle, quite a few ravens, hooded crows, a hobby and a cuckoo. We see our first bear at 20:30. The animal shows more interest in the salmon than in the carcass of a reindeer lying in front of the hides. The animal has, at least for guide Jan, the nickname Browny. Even during a second inspection of the dead reindeer, he leaves the carcass as it is. This before disappearing in an easterly direction after his presence on the scene for about fifteen minutes.

 

What we see next is something we have never seen before during midsummer: a female bear being chased by a male bear with the intention of mating. This is very exceptional since the mating season for bears is normally between the 20^th of May and the 20^th of June. The little female, aka Little Lady, is followed by Hanglip. A male bear with a torn lower lip; most likely caused by a territorial fight with another dominant bear in the area. They both only stay on the scene for a short time and behave quite restlessly. They never really stand still for long nor do they eat from the bait that has been laid out. Neither do they feed from the carcass of reindeer. When the male approaches Little Lady, he is sent away with some aggressive roaring.

Afterwards they both disappear into the same forest from where they emerged. A little later we see them all the way at the back of the bog from west to east; still walking one after the other. Then strange but true another large male bear appears in their wake less than five minutes later. It is downright remarkable that the mating season of the bears is still not over this year! After this bear interaction, two white-tailed eagles pass by. Both the adult and an immature bird are mobbed by local lesser black-backed aka Baltic gulls.

Shortly after 22:00 Fox skin, the leading female wolf, and her partner suddenly appear. Both wolves form the alpha pair in this area. The female has her full focus on eating as much salmon as possible that is hidden in the peat. The male, on the other hand, is mainly busy with scent marking. This by scraping with his hind legs and by urinating frequently everywhere in the peat that is located around and near the hides. It is only when the most readily available food has been largely devoured, that both wolves show interest in the reindeer carcass. He prises off a chunk, she initially a piece of skin. However, it is the female that eats the chunk from the male; he is again mainly busy with further marking the surrounding area where they loiter.

When both animals suddenly stare focused in the same direction, then you know that another carnivore is approaching. With a brown bear approaching from the east, an assumption that quickly becomes a fact. Both wolves enter confrontation by moving in the direction of the bear. But the interaction is short-lived. Apparently, there is sufficient food available. Both predators tolerate each other and quickly return to their daily routine. They forage separately, eating the bait that has been laid out.

The alpha female lies half hidden in the tall grass, gnawing on a chunk of reindeer, the male strolls around nearby. Afterwards they lie together harmoniously for a short while before he decides to leave. Fox skin herself decides to take a nap. However, half an hour later the alpha male comes back to check where his lady is. The encounter they have is one of genuine affection. It is incredibly beautiful to see how both animals sniff and lick each other. Ditto the facial expressions, the twinkling of the ears, the blinking of the eyes and the wagging of their tails. Curled up they lie there enjoying the cozy togetherness.

What happens then is something that touches us all deep inside. Both wolves start a howling concert right in front of the hides. She sits on her behind; he sticks his enormous head above the grass. A moment of pure goose bumps! A little later the alpha couple is standing up to continue their further patrol through their territory from west to east. This ends a period of one hour and thirty minutes with the continuous presence of wolves on the scene. We have all the luck in the world! This is in stark contrast to our previous visit here a week earlier… And the show is not over yet! Hanglip and Little Lady also pass by once more. But once again he is chased away by her. She does not allow him to forage on the laid-out salmon or the reindeer carcass. Restless and nervous they disappear, he follows her, quite quickly out of sight to the back of the bog. After midnight, however, everything falls silent. Apart from a few yellow wagtails, great spotted woodpeckers and some wood sandpipers, we see nothing more that demands our attention.