Nature

Leatherfish have been arriving at Kemijokisuu at a steady low rate – anglers need the southerly wind and rising water

If the weather does not change, the goal of the leather over-transfer obligation will be left.

Lots of lampreys available
The number of leather women has decreased since the peak years in Kemijokisuu.

Leatherfish have been arriving at Kemijokisuu at a steady low rate – anglers need the southerly wind and rising water Read More »

A white-tailed eagle scared a flock of thousands of geese into flight – a rare bird in Finland was caught on bongar’s camera

In a flock of white-fronted geese, a rare bird, an Eskimo goose, flew to Pyhtää.

A white eskimo goose flies above a white-cheeked goose.
A white-tailed eagle scared a flock of 2000-3000 geese into flight. Jouko Hiltunen got a picture of the birds taking flight. The eskimo goose is almost the same size as the white-cheeked goose.

A white-tailed eagle scared a flock of thousands of geese into flight – a rare bird in Finland was caught on bongar’s camera Read More »

Hunting in Oulu’s Sanginjoki continues even after the outer forest became a state protected area

Deer hunting in Sanginjoki will continue this year as well, even though the area has been taken over by Metsähallitus.

Lake Isokanka in Oulu in summer 2020.
The number of hikers on the Sanginjoki has increased since a decision was reached on the protection of the area. Recreational use of the area also continues during the hunting season, and hikers can increase safety by always preferring marked routes and wearing colorful clothing.

Hunting in Oulu’s Sanginjoki continues even after the outer forest became a state protected area Read More »

The apple harvest is worse than in ten years – the heat, rowan berries and mummy disease tormented

A small amount of rowan berries does not interfere with juicing, as they are filtered out in the process. On the other hand, apples with mummy disease are not wanted in the juice house.

The apple orchard yielded three thousand kilos last year, but this fall only individual fruits. Colleagues have also told Laitinen similar experiences. According to him, it does not exceed the normal seasonality.

The summer heat hastened the ripening of many apple species. Then came the rowan berries. They attacked the apples this year, when the rowanberry crop was small.

Drought and pests caused the trees to drop their crops before their time. At that time, many had apples that were problematic waste.

Mummy disease has also taxed the crop this year.

– Apples have looked so disgusting that people have not dared to use them as food for deer, Laitinen describes.

Diseases have inoculated apple crops in Ostrobothnia as well.

Many people throw apples away too easily

Vavesaari’s farm also operates a juice factory, where, among other things, apples are turned into drinks.

The entrepreneur does not want brown, mummy-infected and moldy apples in his juice house. On the other hand, small amounts of rowan berries are not harmful.

– Apples go through many cloths, sieves and pasteurization. No larva swims in the juice. Machine-picked black currants have more protein sources than an apple like this, explains Laitinen.

He has pointed out that people throw apples away too easily.

– A little scabbing or dents don’t hurt anything. An apple will go to pieces in big crushers anyway.

Ginger and spruce are favorites of mulled spices

Berry season is now underway at the juice factory. Many people bring over-the-year berries there from the cold.

In particular, juice is currently produced from lingonberry, cranberry and chokeberry. Grapes, sea buckthorn and carrots are mixed into the same drink as the apple.

The production of mulled wine has also already started, and Laitinen has delivered the first batches of Christmas drinks to retail stores.

Ginger is currently a popular mulled wine spice. Kuusenkerkkä also works well, according to Laitinen.

– It is also a trendy plant and works well with sea buckthorn and apple. You can drink it cold. In hot mulled wine, the aroma of fir emerges.

The apple harvest is worse than in ten years – the heat, rowan berries and mummy disease tormented Read More »

An old marsh is being restored in Reisjärvi – the goal is to protect biodiversity

This fall, Metsähallitus will restore the bog in Ukonmurronneva in Reisjärvi. Swamps are one of the most degraded natural habitats in Finland.

An old swamp area with stunted forest.
With the thunderbolt, the trees have conquered the old open swamp after the drainage. In restoration, ditches are filled in and poorly grown trees are felled and left to rot in place. The goal is to return the bog back to its original open bog in the next few years.

An old marsh is being restored in Reisjärvi – the goal is to protect biodiversity Read More »

The five-year dispute over the logging of Oulujärvi’s camping islands may continue for a long time – forest manager: \”We will fight until the end\”

There is still no information about an agreement in the logging dispute between Metsähallitus and nature organizations. The Swedish Forest Agency wants to cut down \”thousands of cubic meters\ nature organizations think the islands should be left alone.

The two islands of the Oulujärvi camping area, Kuostonsaari and Kaarresalo, have been the subject of a dispute between Metsähallitus and nature conservation organizations for years. According to the parties, rapprochement has also taken place, but differences of opinion still exist.

Metsähallitus would like to conduct thinning-type felling on the island, that is, there will be no open felling. The state would like to clear 162 hectares of forest from Kuostonsaari and 45 hectares from Kaarressalo.

– I can say directly that we are going to be screwed tightly here. In my opinion, Metsähallitus could make that transfer, says Hyyryläinen.

Nature organizations have been fighting for administrative rights over the islands since 2017. The islands belong to the Oulujärvi camping area, the Natura 2000 network and the Rokua Geopark area, but they are not actual protected areas.

Can Kaarresalo remain untouched?

Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä investigated the nature of the islands in autumn 2017. According to them, the islands are very different in their forests.

In Kaarresalo, which is smaller in area, there are many forests over a hundred years old, the oldest trees can be over 150 years old. Nature organizations want it to be left to its own devices.

– We will twist it to the very end, says Hyyryläinen.

Metsähallitus Regional Director Arto Tolonen’s opinion is that it is precisely Kaarresalo where it is more difficult to find an agreement with nature organizations. However, the state is not absolute in its logging intentions, and it may be possible to reject them.

– You might have something like this in your mind, admits Tolonen.

Map of Kaarresalo and Kuostonsaari.
Kaarresalo and Kuostonsaari are located in the northern part of Lake Oulu, in North Ostrobothnia.

The five-year dispute over the logging of Oulujärvi’s camping islands may continue for a long time – forest manager: \”We will fight until the end\” Read More »

Veera Kivistö, 25, is a game vegan who sometimes hunts for her food: \”The main point is what you eat on a daily basis\”

Veera Kivistö decided to reduce her meat consumption and became a vegetarian who sometimes eats game. In general, cutting meat consumption in half would be a good goal for every Finn.

Asking for one’s own food is emotional and emotions come to the surface even in a shooting situation.

– When you get to the prey, you feel gratitude and respect for that animal. I have a way of thanking Mother Nature for calling me a catch and giving me the situation and the opportunity to succeed, Kivistö says.

He describes himself as a game vegan: if he eats meat, it is exclusively game meat or responsible fish, such as Finnish roach.

– The main emphasis in the food is on vegetarian and vegan food, but I prefer to add game that I have caught myself as a spice from time to time. Even what my father asks is fine.

Game meat is not automatically a climate change

Veera Kivistö chose vegetarian food at the age of 15, but game remained on the table thanks to the hobby of her father and brother.

Five years ago, milk and eggs were excluded from the diet. The main reason for reducing meat consumption is concern about the climate.

A woman is frying soy sausage.
Where many hunters pop a campfire sausage during a break, Veera Kivistö digs soy beans out of her backpack.

Veera Kivistö, 25, is a game vegan who sometimes hunts for her food: \”The main point is what you eat on a daily basis\” Read More »

There are incorrect instructions online for dealing with mummy disease apples – read a biologist’s tips for disposing of diseased fruit

An apple with mummy disease hangs on a branch.  There are white spore growths on the surface of a browned apple.
– Do not burn apples with mummy disease. And don’t put them in the mixed waste container, advises biologist Leena Luoto.

There are incorrect instructions online for dealing with mummy disease apples – read a biologist’s tips for disposing of diseased fruit Read More »

The rescue service warned: a furious moose knocked down twenty posts from a moose fence in Kangasa, got caught in its antlers

According to the rescue service, the deer got stuck in the deer fence by its antlers and could not get free.

A road sign warning of deer danger.  Under the sign is information that there are moose 4.5 kilometers away.
Illustration image.

The rescue service warned: a furious moose knocked down twenty posts from a moose fence in Kangasa, got caught in its antlers Read More »