"Problem wolf" in Gelderland fed hamburgers by people, deputy says

The wolf that is approaching people in Ermelo has been fed hamburgers and frikandels, Gelderland deputy Harold Zoet said on Wednesday. “That food is found in the parking lot at Ermelo, which is why we closed it off,” he said, Omroep Gelderland reports.

The province of Gelderland has been pushing for more than a year to shoot wolves with paintball guns to scare them off because one, in particular, is not acting shy as its species should but is approaching people.

A wolf expert from the province told the broadcaster that the animal is likely being fed. “It is the most likely. We are not prey, so why else would people arouse interest,” expert Dick Klees said. He added that he had no hard evidence for this, “but you don’t feed a wolf in sight of the forest ranger.”

Deputy Zoet said it was unclear who was feeding the wolf. “We don’t know whether they are supporters or opponents. But this additional feeding is really not the intention,” he said.

The province recently issued a permit allowing forest rangers to shoot paintballs at wolves to frighten them off. The matter will appear in court again on Wednesday afternoon as Faunabescherming again asks a judge to stop this.