A spike in wolf-predation has put new pressure on Finland’s already sealed border with Russia. The Guardian reports that more than 2,100 reindeer were killed in 2025—almost double the previous record—forcing herders along the 1,340-kilometre frontier to demand stronger culling quotas and surveillance. Researchers suspect many of the wolves originate in Russia, where hunting diminished after conscripts were sent to Ukraine. (theguardian.com)
Although the issue centres on wildlife, it has mobility and security implications. The Finnish Border Guard must investigate tracks that cross the ‘no-man’s-land’ where human passage is prohibited, diverting patrol resources normally focused on preventing irregular migration. Herders also warn that the economic hit—valued at €4 million last year—could force Sami families to abandon traditional migration routes that underpin local tourism and cultural programmes.
For travellers and project teams now weighing journeys to Finland’s eastern regions, securing the proper documentation is another piece of the risk-management puzzle. VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides a streamlined way to obtain work, business, and visitor visas, offering real-time status updates and expert guidance on the latest entry requirements. By outsourcing consular paperwork to specialists, companies can keep their focus on field logistics—whether that means navigating predator-control zones or adapting to new border checks.
![Record reindeer kills spark Finnish call for tighter cross-border wolf controls]()
In response, Finland lifted its blanket ban on wolf hunting on 1 January 2026, replacing it with regional quotas. Environmental NGOs fear this could jeopardise the species’ favourable conservation status under EU law, but Interior Ministry officials argue that controlling the predator population is essential for “border-area livelihood security.”
For global-mobility managers relocating staff to mining, forestry or defence projects in Lapland and Kainuu, the debate highlights potential restrictions on seasonal access roads and the likelihood of ad-hoc police checks. Contractors transporting equipment near the border may face additional permit requirements if predator-control patrols are active.
Long term, the episode underscores how geopolitical rifts can have unexpected spill-overs—from human to animal cross-border movements—necessitating a holistic view of border security that blends environmental and migration policy.
Although the issue centres on wildlife, it has mobility and security implications. The Finnish Border Guard must investigate tracks that cross the ‘no-man’s-land’ where human passage is prohibited, diverting patrol resources normally focused on preventing irregular migration. Herders also warn that the economic hit—valued at €4 million last year—could force Sami families to abandon traditional migration routes that underpin local tourism and cultural programmes.
For travellers and project teams now weighing journeys to Finland’s eastern regions, securing the proper documentation is another piece of the risk-management puzzle. VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides a streamlined way to obtain work, business, and visitor visas, offering real-time status updates and expert guidance on the latest entry requirements. By outsourcing consular paperwork to specialists, companies can keep their focus on field logistics—whether that means navigating predator-control zones or adapting to new border checks.
In response, Finland lifted its blanket ban on wolf hunting on 1 January 2026, replacing it with regional quotas. Environmental NGOs fear this could jeopardise the species’ favourable conservation status under EU law, but Interior Ministry officials argue that controlling the predator population is essential for “border-area livelihood security.”
For global-mobility managers relocating staff to mining, forestry or defence projects in Lapland and Kainuu, the debate highlights potential restrictions on seasonal access roads and the likelihood of ad-hoc police checks. Contractors transporting equipment near the border may face additional permit requirements if predator-control patrols are active.
Long term, the episode underscores how geopolitical rifts can have unexpected spill-overs—from human to animal cross-border movements—necessitating a holistic view of border security that blends environmental and migration policy.
