Pack of wolves appears in front of motorist near Russian border
Ministy of Agriculture and Forestry grants licence to kill one wolf
A large pack of wolves was seen on Tuesday night on a road near Tohmajärvi in Northern Karelia, not far from the Russian border and the border crossing point at Niirala. Local farmer Antero Nenonen met the pack shortly before seven while driving on the Huikkola road between Kitee and Tohmajärvi.
“I saw at least nine or ten well-nourished wolves. They scattered into the forest”, says Nenonen. He notified the local Game Management Association as well as police, and local hunters went to identify the tracks. Nenonen met the wolves in a forested area some 2.5 km from the nearest village.
In and around Tohmajärvi a number of solitary wolves as well as groups of several animals have been seen recently. Last week wolves killed two calves and savaged a third. A number of dogs have been taken by wolves, too.
“There are now too many wolves in this area. The packs have to be dispersed, because there are also bears in the forest. People don’t dare to go picking lingonberries.”
One of the local farms applied for licences to kill three wolves. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry granted one.
“Three would have been better, but this is better than nothing”, says Olavi Ehrukainen, Executive Manager of the Tohmajärvi Game Management Association. “Even though some people fear wolves, there is no hysteria in the air.”
The elk hunting season will start on Saturday. The wolves moving in the area pose a threat to hunting dogs.
“They have been seen to attack a dog even when the hunter is standing nearby. I won’t set my own dog loose in an elk hunt until the situation has cooled down. Several of my friends agree,” argues Ehrukainen.