Police urge mushroom pickers to share secret spots before forest trips

People heading into the forest should wear white or neon-coloured clothing and tell a close relative or trusted friend where they are going, Kert Kotkas, head of the Police and Border Guard Board’s remote surveillance group, told the ERR programme Ringvaade. Police search for dozens of missing mushroom pickers every year, including more than 170 last year.

The methods used in a search depend largely on the landscape. In a small forest surrounded by roads, railways or settlements, a person will eventually reach a way out. In a vast forest, however, they may remain difficult to locate.

Drones are used whenever possible. Even when they do not find a missing person, they can help rule out places where the person is not. In cloudy weather, when the tops of mobile phone masts are covered by clouds, helicopters may struggle to reach the area. Drones may also be limited by the height they can fly, leaving search dogs as the only available aid.

Dog handler Allan Kaljur said a dog can pick up a person’s scent from the ground if the search team knows where the mushroom picker entered the forest. If the person’s vehicle has been left behind, it should not be disturbed. A dog handler can then begin the search from the vehicle.

White clothing and a white bucket can help rescuers spot a person more quickly. Kotkas said a neon reflective vest was among the most visible items in Estonian forests, regardless of the season.

In dense woodland, a drone pilot and dog handler may be close to a missing person without seeing them. During the day, white clothing and a white bucket are especially visible from a drone. Once a person is found, a drone equipped with a loudspeaker can call out to them and guide them out of the forest.

Kaljur said his dog Picasso quickly found a missing mushroom picker after following a relatively short trail. He said the dog had previously followed trails more than 10 kilometres long.

Before entering the forest, police also advise people to identify their location as clearly as possible on a map and share it with a friend. “You do not have to reveal your secret mushroom spots to the whole world, but you could share them within a circle of trusted friends,” Kotkas said.