Björnöarna i östra Runn

Björnöarna Nature Reserve consists of the four islands Stora Björnö (south-eastern part), Lilla Björnö, Södra and Norra Björnungarna and the surrounding water. Here you can discover untouched forest environments and old pine trees or just enjoy the proximity of the water at one of the three rest areas within the reserve.

The resting place on Lilla Björnö is best suited for small pleasure boats, canoes or kayaks. There is a shelter with the possibility of staying overnight, as well as a barbecue area and a dry toilet. On the eastern side of Södra Björnningen there is a boat jetty to dock at and next to the jetty there is a barbecue area and a dry toilet. On the western side of the island there is a simpler and smaller rest area.

During the heyday of the Falun copper mine, a lot of wood was needed and the forests around Falun were heavily used. This also applied to the forests on the islands in Runn. Now a long time has passed and the former open land is overgrown with forest.

Because, or perhaps because, it is difficult to manage forests on islands, it has been possible to develop areas of high or very high natural value in some parts of the islands. On Lilla Björnö, for example, there is a forest area with plenty of standing and lying dead trees, which some plant and animal species need to live and develop in. Along the shores there are also really old pine trees, 200 to 300 years old, where the unusual beetle relict (Nothorhina punctata in Latin) can be found.

On Stora Björnö there are traces of human use of the island. Here they cultivated and let animals graze. Near the bay on the southeast side there is a house foundation with a cellar and foundation stones for a presumed barn.

There is also a rich bird life on and around the islands. Along the shores you can hear and see the woodcock flying, further out on the water you can usually see and hear osprey, Eurasian bittern, little grebe, great crested cormorant, little crested cormorant, tern and more. If you're really lucky, you may also see a sea eagle.