subject: The Brown Bear's of Lapland [print this page] The Brown Bear's of Lapland The Brown Bear's of Lapland
Tracking bears in Lapland is another delight this beautiful country offers and not many people are aware that Lapland is home to bears. Oulanka National Park is a great place to visit and as well as its beauty Oulanka National Park is a great place to spot the bears. The Lapland brown bear can emerge from hibernation as early as the beginning of April and at this time of year it is very likely that snow will still cover the land. The bear watching season begins in April and will go on until October at which time the bears will be preparing for hibernation once more. There is the opportunity also to visit an area in Eastern Finland where you can observe the bears safely from a series of hides. The hides situated in open wetlands are comfortable and allow you the chance to really get to see and observe these beautiful creatures. The brown bear is a forest living predator and their life span is on average 35 years, although they can live longer. The brown bear mates between May and June and the pregnancy for a female bear will last between 7 and 8 months. The female bear will give birth to their young in the month of January and it is normal for a bear to have between 1 and 3 cubs. The brown bear is considered endangered and is protected and if you are serious about looking for these beautiful animals, it is wise to go on an organised tour as they can be quite difficult to track down. Bears are many peoples favourite animals and the photography opportunities in the summer months are fantastic. The Nordic summer yields 12-16 hours of sunlight a day with 2-4 hours of twilight and this gives the perfect opportunity to not only view the bears but to take some fantastic photos as well.
The brown bears are magnificent creatures and are probably more scared of you than you are of them. They are incredibly endearing animals and can prove difficult to track. Seeing them in the day can sometimes be difficult and they are incredibly private animals. An organised tour is the best opportunity to see these creatures and there are some fantastic places where you can observe the bears from the safety of specially designed hides.
