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  • Species+
    • Brown bear+
      • Description of the bear+
      • Signs of a bear+
      • Bear behaviour and reproduction+
      • Bear's diet and hunting behaviour+
      • Number and distribution of bears+
    • Wolf+
      • Description of the wolf+
      • Signs of a wolf+
      • Wolf behaviour and reproduction+
      • Wolf's diet and hunting behaviour+
      • Number and distribution of wolves+
    • Lynx+
      • Description of the lynx+
      • Signs of a lynx+
      • Lynx behaviour and reproduction+
      • Lynx's diet and hunting behaviour+
      • Number and distribution of lynxes+
    • Wolverine+
      • Description of the wolverine+
      • Signs of a wolverine+
      • Wolverine behaviour and reproduction+
      • Wolverine's diet and hunting behaviour+
      • Number and distribution of wolverines+
  • Conservation and hunting+
    • Population management plans+
      • Management plan for the Finnish brown bear population+
      • Management plan for the Finnish wolf population+
      • Management plan for the Finnish lynx population+
      • Management plan for the Finnish wolverine population+
    • Conservation+
      • Degree of endangerment+
      • Evaluation of conservation status+
      • Transplantations+
    • Hunting+
      • Bear hunting+
      • Wolf hunting+
      • Lynx hunting+
      • Illegal hunting+
    • Legislation+
      • The Hunting Act and Hunting Decree+
      • The Nature Conservation Act and Decree+
      • Other legislation in Finland+
      • EU and the conservation of large carnivores+
      • International agreements+
    • Large carnivore research+
      • Estimating the numbers of large carnivores+
      • Ecological research+
      • Sociological research+
      • DNA research and wolves+
  • Large carnivores and us+
    • Meeting a large carnivore+
      • Meeting a bear+
      • Meeting a wolf+
      • Meeting a wolverine or a lynx+
    • Society+
      • Attitudes towards large carnivores+
      • Nature photography+
      • Tourism+
      • Reindeer herding and large carnivores+
    • Damages+
      • Reindeer damages+
      • Damages to dogs+
      • Damages to other domestic animals+
      • Damage prevention+
      • Compensation for damages+
    • Large carnivore sightings+
      • Reporting a sighting+
      • Large carnivores in populated areas & road accidents+
  • Latest news+
  • Petola+
    • Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola+
    • Coexisting with large carnivores+
      • The good and bad predator+
      • Art and craft+
    • Gallery+
      • Brown bear+
      • Wolf+
      • Lynx+
      • Wolverine+
      • Petola+
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  • Home
  • Species
    • Brown bear
      • Description of the bear
      • Signs of a bear
      • Bear behaviour and reproduction
      • Bear's diet and hunting behaviour
      • Number and distribution of bears
    • Wolf
      • Description of the wolf
      • Signs of a wolf
      • Wolf behaviour and reproduction
      • Wolf's diet and hunting behaviour
      • Number and distribution of wolves
    • Lynx
      • Description of the lynx
      • Signs of a lynx
      • Lynx behaviour and reproduction
      • Lynx's diet and hunting behaviour
      • Number and distribution of lynxes
    • Wolverine
      • Description of the wolverine
      • Signs of a wolverine
      • Wolverine behaviour and reproduction
      • Wolverine's diet and hunting behaviour
      • Number and distribution of wolverines
  • Conservation and hunting
    • Population management plans
      • Management plan for the Finnish brown bear population
      • Management plan for the Finnish wolf population
      • Management plan for the Finnish lynx population
      • Management plan for the Finnish wolverine population
    • Conservation
      • Degree of endangerment
      • Evaluation of conservation status
      • Transplantations
    • Hunting
      • Bear hunting
      • Wolf hunting
      • Lynx hunting
      • Illegal hunting
    • Legislation
      • The Hunting Act and Hunting Decree
      • The Nature Conservation Act and Decree
      • Other legislation in Finland
      • EU and the conservation of large carnivores
      • International agreements
    • Large carnivore research
      • Estimating the numbers of large carnivores
      • Ecological research
      • Sociological research
      • DNA research and wolves
  • Large carnivores and us
    • Meeting a large carnivore
      • Meeting a bear
      • Meeting a wolf
      • Meeting a wolverine or a lynx
    • Large carnivores and society
      • Attitudes towards large carnivores
      • Nature photography
      • Tourism
      • Reindeer herding and large carnivores
    • Damages
      • Reindeer damages
      • Damages to dogs
      • Damages to other domestic animals
      • Damage prevention
      • Compensation for damages
    • Large carnivore sightings
      • Reporting a sighting
      • Large carnivores in populated areas & road accidents
  • Latest news
  • Petola
    • Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola
    • Coexisting with large carnivores
      • The good and bad predator
      • Art and craft
    • Gallery
      • Brown bear
      • Wolf
      • Lynx
      • Wolverine
      • Petola
  • Search
A large wooden sculpture of a bear leaning down towards two small wooden bears standing in front of it.

Petola

Welcome to virtual Petola! Petola is a story corner and photo gallery of the Suurpedot.fi-website, but also a visitor centre in Kuhmo, maintained by Metsähallitus. The Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola with its enchanting exhibitions is worth a visit when you want to learn more about the large carnivores of Finland.

  • Brown bear
  • Wolf
  • Lynx
  • Wolverine
  • Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola
  • Coexisting with large carnivores
  • Gallery
  • Brown bear
  • Wolf
  • Lynx
  • Wolverine
  • Petola

A urine track of a female wolf during the oestrous cycle. Photo: Antti Härkälä

A urine track of a female wolf during the oestrous cycle. A urine track of a female wolf during the oestrous cycle.

An elk killing site for wolves. Photo: Petri Timonen

An elk killing site for wolves. Nothing but hair, teeth and the jawbone remain of the elk. An elk killing site for wolves. Nothing but hair, teeth and the jawbone remain of the elk.

Wolf den. Photo: Seppo Ronkainen

Wolf den under roots. Wolf den under roots.

Wolf faeces. Photo: Antti Härkälä

Wolf faeces. Wolf faeces.

Wolf track on snow. Photo: Aku Ahlholm

Wolf track on snow. Wolf track on snow.

Wolf tracks in the snow. Photo: Risto Sauso

Wolf tracks in the snow. Wolf tracks in the snow.

Wolf tracks on snow. Photo: Risto Sauso

Wolf tracks on snow. Wolf tracks on snow.

If you come across a large carnivore

If you come across a large carnivore, the best thing to do is to keep calm. Retreating the same way you came is also often the wisest option.

Read more

Reporting a sighting

Sightings are important in estimating the number of large carnivores. You should give a detailed report of your sighting including precise location information to the local large carnivore contact person.

Read more

Large carnivore authorities in Finland

Who is responsible for large carnivores?

Read more

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