Authorities in North Karelia have removed a mother bear from a village over fears the animal posed a threat to the public after her cub was fatally hit by a car.
The incident occurred near the village of Eno, about 35 km from the city of Joensuu, in eastern Finland.
Early on Friday morning police issued a warning that a potentially dangerous bear was roaming in the area. Police said that the bear’s cub was killed after being hit by a car on Sarvingintie, just after 5am.
The accident took place about 10 km from the centre of the village.
After the mother bear was seen moving closer to the village later in the morning, members of the Finnish Wildlife Agency’s big game services were called to the scene.
At around 10am the Eastern Finland Police Department announced on social media platform X (previously Twitter), that the bear had been transported about five kilometres away from the village.
Police noted that the bear did not appear to be aggressive.
Vehicle accidents involving bears are generally rare in Finland, but Friday’s incident was the second this week.
Authorities in southeast Finland were forced to euthanise a bear after it was hit by a car in the Etelä-Savo region on Wednesday.
The vehicle involved in that crash was not badly damaged and was able to continue on its journey.
Source: Yle
