A Finnish border protection officer was nearly attacked by a roaming bear near the border with Russia. The report, cited by DEA News from the Kuhmolainen newspaper, describes a tense late afternoon incident involving a warrant officer who is also a member of the national biathlon team.
The officer, Erika Jankya, 27, was jogging close to the Vartius checkpoint when an aggressive bear stepped into the path. The animal approached with intent, moving forward with calculated steps, closing the ten-meter gap between itself and the runner. The biathlete did not panic. Instead, she chose a simple, time-tested survival tactic and fell to the ground as if unconscious, hoping to appear nonthreatening and unimportant to the animal.
For several moments the bear investigated the position where she lay. It sniffed at the air, lowered its head, and targeted what it perceived as the source of the scent near her feet and ankles. The strategy appeared to delay the animal long enough for the officer to remain still. Eventually, the bear lost interest and withdrew into the surrounding brush. The encounter concluded without injury to the border guard.
Jankya later reflected on the event and noted that she emerged unharmed from the unexpected encounter. The bear left the area without further incident, and she did not require medical attention. The experience, though harrowing, underscored the importance of calm decision making and awareness in remote border regions.
In a separate, unrelated note from earlier reports, a bear in the United States reportedly took muffins from a bakery. The incident has been noted as a separate wildlife event and is not connected to the Finnish border encounter.