hidden treasure helsinki

City animals

 

Helsinki is sure one of the greenest capitals in the whole world. The best part is that we love our nature. Some people love to turn our beautiful nature into money but we normal citizens do respect what we have. Helsinki is home for animals as well. We have lot's of different wild animals that you can spot. 

 

Seals 

 

After the last Ice age, a bunch of seals got stuck in Finland, especially in Saimaa area. This happened 8 000 years ago, but guess what? They are still there..!

 

Saimaa is southeast of Finland,  and they live in Lake Saimaa, but sometimes these fellows end up in the beaches of Helsinki! Once a year there can be one seal spotted.

 

Owl

 

Hachiko in Tokyo, Bubi in Helsinki!

We have this one city owl that became famous after flying around the olympic station middle of the soccer game. The owl got a name "Bubi" and fast took media's attention. It had legendary moments when Finland was playing soccer against Belgium and Bubi appeared suddenly on the stage. After Bubi left, Finland won 2-0. It is very rare that Finland wins any game in soccer.

In 2007 Bubi was chosen as "the Year's Townie" by the city journalists association. 

 

Bunnies

 

Many countries have cockroach problem. We don't have cockroaches in Finland. Or it's super rare to see one. I remember walking in Sydney's Kings Cross and the streets were covered with cockroaches. Disgusting.

Helsinki starts sounding like Teletabby-land when I tell this: we have rabbits everywhere. People say the rabbits are problem, because they eat everything like a huge pacman. And it's difficult to fight against them, because rabbits .. well, you know the saying when someone is very active sexually... Yeah. Rabbits are similar problem here as the possums in New Zealand.

In central Helsinki you might not be able to see any, but if you walk to Töölönlahti (park next to Finlandia house) there are so many bunnies especially during the night time and early in the morning. You are able to see them in the daytime too, but bunnies are shy, so find a quiet spot. Also I live in Kallio and am watching bunnies running all the time from my window, and this area is well inhabited.

During the summer these bunnies have babies, which are amazingly cute!

Eating city bunnies? 

They tried to make food business out of it, but then they realized these bunnies are eating polluted grass.

 

Jackdaw

 

I was walking home from work, it was 1st of January 2008. I was just watching photos from my camera and crossing the main street in Helsinki central, Mannerheimintie, when I noticed a bird walking towards me. I was waiting bird to step aside, of course, I’m a human and it’s a bird and I’m thirty times bigger. But no, I had to step aside!

Fast I put my camera on photo mode and took a photo of this bird. Later that day I saw my mother and show her the picture and she said “Send it to the newspaper!!”

So I did.

Next week my phone rang and the caller was from Helsingin Sanomat. She said my photograph won the weekly competition.

After that I started to see jackdaw’s everywhere. And I noticed how this bird breed had totally it’s own character. I advise you to watch jackdaw’s when they walk around. I can promise it is entertaining!

 

Fox

 

This is a common fellow in Helsinki. As there are plenty of rabbits, there will be plenty of foxes. Don't get surprised if you see a fox running around. They like to visit city sometimes. 

 

Bats

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When summer comes, start these cute little creatures show again. I don’t know what they do during the winter, but I guess they have a looooong nap.

The best places to spot bats are in East Helsinki. Also good places are Seurasaari and Kivinokka (according to Helsinki environment council). There are 9 different species of bats to spot.

 

Finnish forest reindeer

 

To be honest you can see these fellows anywhere. I was doing my evening jog and one jumped from the bush in Taka-Töölö. I just had a fast WTF-moment and continued what I was doing.

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Frogs

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There's an island where you can spot many frogs in the wild. Learn more about Harakansaari. 

 

Farm animals

 

They're not wild, but they have great space for living. Read more from here.

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Also you can spot these: mink, raccoon dog, lynx (rare but can be seen in East Helsinki)...

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