[1] He is the best friend of the series' protagonist, Moomintroll, and lives a nomadic lifestyle, only staying in Moominvalley in the spring and summer, leaving for warmer climates down south every winter.

Snufkin also has a great dislike for authority figures such as the Park Keeper and the many regulation signs and fences he erects.

He has a great hatred for all symbols of private property, even losing his temper with the Hemulen after the latter attempts to put up a sign declaring "Moominvalley".

Snufkin once even throws his tent in the gorge, because he thinks it is not worth clinging to useless property, but instead can write a poem when he sees something beautiful.

[6] Tove Jansson based the character of Snufkin on her friend and one-time fiancé, Atos Wirtanen.