Michael LaFreniere, 18, Grand Marais, faces several charges for the shooting of a bobcat in the City of Grand Marais. There was a report of shots fired at about 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, possibly at a lynx, but when law enforcement officers from several agencies responded, there was no evidence of a shooting or an injured animal.
However, on Friday, March 16, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mary Manning received a report of a dead bobcat in the Highway 61 ditch near Fall River Road west of Grand Marais. The caller believed the animal had been shot.
When CO Manning retrieved the bobcat the next day, she said it was obvious the cat had been shot. The circumstances of the shooting were unknown and Manning appealed to the public in a News-Herald article to contact the DNR if they had any information. On March 28, Conservation Officer Darin Fagerman received information about the shooting. CO Fagerman visited
LaFreniere, who admitted shooting and transporting the animal out of the city limits. His weapon was confiscated.
CO Manning said LaFreniere faces charges for shooting a bobcat out of season, transporting an illegally taken wild animal, and reckless discharge of a firearm.
Manning said there is a hunting season for bobcat, which allows taking by firearm, however, the season ended January 8. Discharge of firearms is not allowed within the city limits of Grand Marais.
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