Last week we spent a night at a small and relatively unknown wildlife photography location in eastern Finland. We were not there as tourists or even primarily as photographers. We were there to evaluate the place before adding it to Finnature’s selection of wildlife photography destinations.

We are always looking for new locations that genuinely offer something valuable. Finding a good place to photograph wolverines is especially difficult. It is one of the most requested mammals among wildlife photographers, but surprisingly few locations can offer even a reasonable chance of seeing one.

Many bear photography sites mention that wolverines occasionally visit their feeding areas. That is certainly true, but in many places a wolverine may appear only once every week or two. While that can produce excellent photographs for lucky visitors, it is not reliable enough for us to confidently recommend a dedicated wolverine photography experience.

That is why we keep searching.

Preparing for the Visit

On Friday morning we packed our camera bags, warm clothes and enough food for the night before heading east. We had been told to bring both a longer telephoto lens and something like a 70–200 mm lens because the animals sometimes approach surprisingly close to the hides.

The hide owner also provides snacks, but since we had not had time for lunch, we packed a more substantial meal for the night. We also filled our own reusable water bottles instead of buying disposable plastic bottles. A long night in a hide is always easier with good food and enough water.

When we arrived, the owner told us that both a male and a female wolverine had been visiting the area regularly throughout the summer. Visitors had even photographed mating behaviour earlier in the season, which naturally raises hopes that cubs might appear next year.

Bears also move through the area, although less predictably. Seeing one always depends a little on luck.

Before heading into the hides, we also inspected the accommodation. The property offers four comfortable twin rooms, making longer stays easy despite the remote location.

The Observation Hide

Our first stop was the larger observation hide.

As I have mentioned before, observation hides are usually more spacious than dedicated photography hides. This one is divided into two separate rooms and shared dry toilet. One side has two photography openings for two photographers together with a large observation window, while the other room offers one opening for two photographers and a large viewing window. Both rooms also have some beds for resting during the night.

The large windows provide excellent visibility, and I think photographers could capture very good images from here as well. The hide overlooks an open area surrounded by beautiful birch forest, creating a very different atmosphere from many traditional bear photography sites.

Access is also exceptionally easy. The car can be parked only a few metres from the hide, making it suitable even for visitors with limited mobility.

The Photography Hides

Since our goal was photography, we continued another few dozen metres to the dedicated photography hides.

There are two hides. One accommodates three photographers with two photography openings and bunk beds, while the second is designed for two photographers. Both have standing height and dry toilets, which makes spending long hours inside much more comfortable.

The view immediately caught my attention the background consists of an open birch woodland. The foreground has been carefully cleared, while the trees become naturally denser farther away.

The open foreground gives excellent opportunities to photograph fast-moving wolverines. On the other hand, once an animal reaches the thicker birch forest, it quickly disappears behind the trees. Both bears and wolverines often vanished from view only seconds after leaving the open area.

That is simply part of photographing wildlife in forest habitats. Forests have trees, and trees sometimes hide animals.

An Evening Full of Surprises

The weather kept changing throughout the evening. Sunshine alternated with rain showers, and the light changed constantly.

Before leaving, the hide owner carefully hid small pieces of meat and fish under rocks and in trees. A few pieces were left in the open for gulls, whose calls often attract other wildlife.

Almost immediately after she drove away, our first unexpected visitor arrived.

A Black Kite landed in a nearby tree before eventually dropping down to feed on the ground. Although Black Kites are seen time to time in Finland from the hides , watching one feeding on the ground was an unusual and very welcome bonus.

At around 5:30 pm the first bear appeared from the tall grass.

As so often happens, the first bear arrived while the afternoon sun was still high. One of the things I immediately liked about this location was the open birch forest behind the clearing. It creates a very different look from many other wildlife photography sites and gives the images a distinctive character.

Like many interesting backgrounds, however, it can become surprisingly challenging in difficult light. The bright birch trunks and the dark fur of the bear create a scene with a wide range of tones, making exposure more demanding than it first appears.

There we were, two professional wildlife photographers, both checking our histograms and fine-tuning our exposure while the bear calmly searched for food. Even after many years behind the camera, scenes like this remind me that the most rewarding backgrounds are not always the easiest to photograph.

The young bear spent a long time searching through the hidden food caches before eventually disappearing into the forest. Soon afterwards we heard loud roaring somewhere beyond the trees, suggesting it had encountered another bear.

About an hour later, a second young bear entered the area. This individual had lighter patches along its sides and behaved much the same way, carefully investigating every possible hiding place for food.

Some tall fireweed ( Rosebay Willowherb) had intentionally been left growing in the middle of the clearing. Several times the bear stood upright behind the flowers, offering unusual compositions. Photographing those moments was not easy because we could not always predict when the bear would appear, but the softer evening light made everything much easier than before.

Finally, the Wolverine

Roughly an hour later, the moment we had been hoping for finally arrived.

A female wolverine entered the clearing.

She moved quickly across the open area, investigating every corner and finding a few remaining pieces of food that the bears had missed. Wolverines rarely stay still for long, but the relatively open foreground made following her movements much easier than at many other locations where tall vegetation often hides the animal almost completely.

Just before heavy rain clouds covered the sky, a third bear crossed the area at a brisk pace.

Later in the evening, the smaller wildlife became just as entertaining. Bird seed had been placed inside a hollow tree stump, attracting several field voles. We even watched an energetic fight between two of them, but by then there was too little light left for good photographs. Field voles may not be the reason people come to a wildlife hide, but moments like this are part of what makes a night in nature so rewarding. It is surprisingly rare to observe – and photograph – them calmly from such close range.

By around ten o’clock we decided to stop photographing and get some sleep. The rain had made the evening much darker than expected, and since our main purpose was to evaluate the hides rather than maximise our portfolio, we were happy to call it a night.

Will We Recommend It?

Absolutely.

This location offers something that is difficult to find: a realistic opportunity to photograph wolverines in a well-designed setting with comfortable hides and easy access.

No wildlife location can ever guarantee its animals, and that is exactly how it should be. But after spending a night here, we left feeling confident that this is a place we will be happy to recommend once we have finished preparing the photography material and visitor information.

Sometimes testing a new location is about much more than taking good photographs.

It is about making sure that when we recommend a place, we know exactly what photographers can realistically expect.

Read more:

• Why Some Wildlife Photography Hides Produce Good Images So Easily
• What to Consider Before Booking a Wildlife Photography Hide
• Finland – Perhaps the Best Place in the World to Photograph Wolverines
• Best Time to See and Photograph Bears in Finland
• Summer Wildlife Photography in Finland: Bears, Wolverines and Wolves