The highest deer densities in winter were observed in the familiar areas of Ristijärvi and Sotkamo.
The Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) estimates that there are about 900 deer wintering in Kainuu. Between 2015 and 2019, the wintering population has fluctuated between 700 and 750 wood deer, but over the past four years the population has increased by about 5% annually.
The current slight increase has been preceded by a recovery in calf production from the trough of recent years, which has been monitored in autumn since 1996.
This year, calves accounted for around 15% of the wintering deer population in Kainuu, which is higher than usual.
Like last year, the highest deer densities this winter were observed in Ristijärvi in \u200b\u200bthe area of \u200b\u200bHiisijärvi and Laahtanen and in Sotkamo in the ridge area between Huhtikkanka and Kukkoharju. Outside these areas, small forest deer populations were found, where moose were mostly found.
According to Luke, despite the current cautious recovery, the common forest deer population of Kainuu and the neighboring regions of Karelia in Russia is still small and is limited mainly by large beasts, traffic and suitable habitats for forest deer. In Russia, the forest deer population is also limited by poaching.
*You can discuss the topic until 23:00 on March 23.*