Wolves that attack people or protected farm animals twice in two weeks should be shot, junior agriculture minister Jean Rummenie has told MPs.

The minister outlined his plans to take action against “problem wolves” in a letter to parliament, two weeks after their protected status was lowered under the Bern Convention.

Wolves that demonstrate unnatural behaviour, such as attacking dogs on leashes, prowling within 30 metres of buildings or “appearing to be interested in humans” should be scared off or chased away, Rummenie said.

In more extreme cases, such as attacking dogs or people without provocation, or killing farm animals that are protected by fences, the provincial government could issue a licence to shoot the wolf – though this would be likely to face legal challenges.

In September a court blocked an attempt by Utrecht province to fit a tracking device to a wolf that had approached people and dogs several times. The province has since applied to have transmitters attached to an entire pack in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug after DNA sampling revealed that the “problem wolf” was the father.

Paintball cases

Provincial officials in Gelderland have been engaged in a long-running legal battle to be allowed to use paintball guns to drive away wolves that stray too close to people.

“As far as I am concerned the space for a large predator such as the wolf is limited in the densely populated Netherlands,” Rummenie wrote. “I want to make sure that we can live as safely as possible in the Netherlands and keep cattle without having to fear wolves.”

The minister also said he planned to set up a wolf hotline where organisations could report incidents and investigate the maximum sustainable wolf population. Currently there are an estimated 124 wolves living in 11 packs in the Netherlands.

Rummenie published his plans as a sheep farmer in Overijssel became the first to be warned for not protecting his animals properly against wolves.

The Dutch food standards agency NVWA issued the warning after inspecting the premises in Kallenkote-Eesveen earlier in December, after being notified by animal welfare organisation Animal Rights.

Livestock owners have a legal obligation to protect their animals from “real threats”, including attacks by wolves.