In September 2025, a rare but serious wolf-related incident took place in Loppi, southern Finland. A local resident, Johanna Liukkonen, was forced to defend her dog from a wolf attack using only her bare hands. DNA testing later confirmed that the animal involved was a wild wolf.

According to the Finnish Natural Resources Institute (Luke), the wolf showed no hesitation or fear of human presence. When Liukkonen lifted her fleeing dog into the air in an attempt to protect it, the wolf redirected its aggression and attacked the human instead. Both the dog and its owner survived the incident with minor injuries.

Subsequent investigations revealed that a wolf pair and an additional solitary wolf had been moving through the area at the time. The wolf later culled in the vicinity was identified as a lone individual and is strongly suspected to be the same animal involved in the attack. No further observations of a third wolf have been recorded since, including through wildlife camera monitoring.

Notably, neither human scent nor the smell of nearby vehicle exhaust deterred the wolf from attacking. This behaviour underlines a key concern in large carnivore management: loss of natural fear of humans significantly increases the risk of dangerous encounters.

Wildlife experts stress that human avoidance is a natural and essential behavioural trait in large predators. When this trait erodes, conflicts with people, pets and livestock become more likely. Scientific evidence shows that active and adaptive management, including regulated hunting where appropriate, contributes to maintaining this necessary human avoidance behaviour.

This Finnish case serves as a reminder that large carnivore conservation must go hand in hand with human safety and responsible wildlife management. Ignoring warning signs or delaying intervention can have serious consequences for both people and animals.

At FACE, we continue to advocate for science-based, pragmatic approaches that ensure coexistence while reducing risks associated with habituated large predators.