Public tries to lure young wolf in Drenthe. Staatsbosbeheer is considering a stopping ban near a nature reserve

According to forest ranger Lysander van Oossanen of Staatsbosbeheer, some went so far as to rattle bowls of food along the side of the road to lure the animal. Consideration is now being given to imposing a stopping ban along the road through the nature reserve, because according to Van Oossanen, up to thirty cars were sometimes parked along the narrow road at the same time.

The wolf, probably a cub from the pack in the area, first appeared last week. This immediately attracted wolf spotters from all over the country in the hope of taking a photo or video of the animal. According to Van Oossanen, interest increased enormously over the weekend, including from people in the immediate area.

Forest rangers and boas had to speak to people about their undesirable behavior. They also had to turn away hikers who walked off the paths through the nature reserve in search of the wolf. “It is forbidden to walk off the paths, but many were not very impressed,” said the ranger.

‘Undesirable wolf behavior’

Staatsbosbeheer calls the great interest in the wolf “not something we want. Situations can easily arise that we are most afraid of: the wolf gets used to people and that is undesirable wolf behavior. Or he feels cornered and does things he shouldn’t do.”

An example, according to Van Oossanen, is that the animal wanted to cross the road at the weekend and that a whole group of spectators moved along. “We have never experienced this in these nature reserves before. We have considered closing the road and are in consultation with the provinces of Friesland and Drenthe and the two municipalities involved.”

As far as we know, the young wolf did not show itself during the weekend.

In Drenthe and Friesland, relatively many sheep and other animals are attacked by wolves. Opposition to the predator in those provinces is strong and many residents are also said to be afraid. There are two wolf packs in the area.