Finland's first police investigation into feeding wild ducks has reached the questioning stage, with a single activist summoned for formal interrogation in late January. This unprecedented case in Kajaani centers on Keijo Nevaranta, who faces a potential environmental offense charge for providing grain to mallards during winter months. The probe highlights a growing national conflict between municipal bans on wildlife feeding and long-standing public practices, testing the enforcement of local ordinances against acts many view as harmless charity.
From City Duty to Citizen Arrest
The city of Kajaani itself organized duck feeding for decades, only ending the practice in 2011. Since then, volunteer activists have taken over the role, ensuring a population of ducks that remain in the city center year-round has a food source during harsh winter conditions. That changed in November 2024 when the Kajaani city council formally prohibited the feeding of wild animals on all city-controlled areas within its zoned territory. Despite the ban, Nevaranta and other activists continued their daily ritual, delivering between 20 to 30 kilograms of grain to the ducks throughout last winter. This persistence triggered the initial police investigation, which was later paused and then reopened in December after authorities received what they term 'additional information.' Detective Chief Inspector Marko Kähkönen declined to specify the nature of this new information when questioned.
A Solitary Summons Stirs Community
Keijo Nevaranta confirms he is the only person to have received a formal summons for police questioning related to the case. 'I heard from people in the villages that no one else has been asked to come in for questioning,' Nevaranta stated, underscoring the singular focus of the investigation. This selective enforcement raises questions about the criteria used by police to identify suspects in an activity openly conducted by multiple individuals. The summons for an environmental offense interview, a relatively rare charge in this context, elevates what was previously a matter of municipal rule-breaking into a potential criminal proceeding. Nevaranta's scheduled interview will determine whether prosecutors proceed with formal charges, setting a potential legal precedent for similar bans in other Finnish municipalities.
The Legal and Ecological Debate
While Kajaani's ban is clear, its enforcement through criminal law is untested territory in Finland. The case hinges on interpreting what constitutes an environmental offense under national law when applied to feeding non-endangered, common bird species. Proponents of the ban argue that concentrated feeding alters natural animal behavior, can lead to overpopulation and disease, and creates nuisances in urban areas. They point to the city's right to manage public spaces and maintain order. Opponents, including Nevaranta, frame the feeding as an act of compassion and a continuation of a community tradition the city itself started. They question the allocation of police resources towards prosecuting an activity they see as causing no tangible harm, especially when the city facilitated it for years.
National Implications of a Local Case
The outcome of the Kajaani case is being watched by other Finnish towns and cities grappling with similar issues. Many localities have debated or implemented restrictions on feeding pigeons, seagulls, or waterfowl, but active police investigations remain exceedingly rare. A decision to press charges could empower other municipalities to seek stricter enforcement of their own ordinances. Conversely, if the case is dropped, it may weaken the perceived authority of such local bans. The situation also touches on broader questions about human interaction with urban wildlife and the point at which a well-intentioned act transitions into a regulatory violation. The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation has historically advised against feeding wildlife to prevent dependency, but it typically advocates for public education over criminalization.
Awaiting a Precedent-Setting Interview
All immediate attention is on the scheduled police interview at the end of January. Nevaranta's testimony and the evidence presented by police will form the basis of the prosecutor's decision. Legal experts note that for a conviction, the state must prove the feeding caused measurable environmental damage or a significant disturbance, a potentially high bar for a case involving common mallards. The activist community in Kajaani has indicated they will continue their feeding efforts regardless, viewing the police action as disproportionate. This sets the stage for an ongoing cycle of defiance and enforcement unless a clearer legal resolution or a new community compromise is reached. The case, filed under a broad 'environmental offense' classification, will ultimately define where Finland draws the line between caring for nature and illegally interfering with it.
A Microcosm of a Larger Conflict
This investigation into duck feeding in a northern Finnish city encapsulates a modern tension between regulation and tradition, between centralized municipal control and individual acts of care. It pits a city council's legislative authority against a citizen's personal ethical code. While the scale is small, the principles at stake are significant for Finnish environmental and municipal law. The resolution will send a message about how far local governments can go to manage public behavior in the name of environmental management and urban order. For now, a man preparing a bag of grain for ducks waits for his date with the police, and a community watches to see if its winter ritual will become a crime.