The wolf which was spotted in Drenthe at the weekend has now moved north into Groningen province, where officials say they may attempt to catch it.

The wolf has been spotted in a residential area and an industrial estate, and officials say it is ‘undesirable’ to have a wolf so close to people, local media report.

The province is now in talks with experts about the best action to take. ChristenUnie provincial councillor Henk Staghouwer says the animal is showing ‘atypical behaviour’ and appears unafraid of humans. ‘That is worrying,’ he told RTV Noord.

One video shows the wolf on a bridge on a country road turning a circle before running into a field. Another (below) shows the wolf bounding along a pavement in a residential street.

DNA

One option to find out why the wolf is behaving the way it does would be to tranquilise and catch it, he said. The animal’s DNA could then be used to trace where it comes from. It would then be possible to find out if the animal is domesticated or an escapee.

The wolf was spotted walking along a road in Germany on Friday and in Drenthe on Saturday and did not appear to be afraid of cars.

Reports the wolf has killed a sheep are probably unfounded, officials said on Monday. An initial investigation shows the sheep was killed by a dog but DNA tests will be carried out to make sure, Drenthe councillor Rein Munniksma told the NRC.