Conservation Officer Tales

Although the Cook County News- Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks, there are a few that run afoul of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officers. Periodically, the DNR provides a report of some of the miscreants the Conservation Officers (CO) have encountered. The News-Herald shares these stories as a reminder to all to be safe and to follow the rules!

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports it is still winter in the Arrowhead. Lakes along the border are frozen right up to shore and snow still remains on the lakes and in the woods. The CO got to watch a wolf on the ice by an old moose kill. The crows knew how far they had to stay away from him not to become a meal themselves, but close enough to be an annoyance to the wolf. The wolf came back a couple of times and when he wasn’t there, a half-dozen eagles flew in and out of the area.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended computer training at Camp Ripley. The officer also investigated an illegal burn complaint at an area business. After extinguishing the fire, an employee was provided with a paperwork reminder to check burn piles for garbage before lighting them. Manning also disposed of confiscated fur from last fall’s trapping season and handled seasonal equipment issues.

CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) received calls from the public regarding a coyote with mange and a possible dead eagle that ended up being a house cat.

CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) checked on a yearling bear that supposedly fell from a tree. After a few hours of rest the bear seemed to be okay and re-climbed the tree. Mother bear was by its side.

CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked shore anglers along Lake Superior where some salmon and kamloops rainbows are being caught. Two juveniles were found riding ATVs in the area of a local snowmobile trail. After spotting the officer’s squad, they decided to take a county road instead of the snowmobile trail. After they were stopped, they were found to have several violations between them. Parents were contacted and the juveniles and their machines transported home.

CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson) took a report of a poached deer at the Morton city public access. The two back legs had been removed along with a small amount of meat from the back quarters. The deer was dumped in the Minnesota River.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke with a concerned landowner who contacted him regarding a collared timber wolf that came into her yard and appeared to have little fear of humans. The landowner has lost dogs and livestock in the past to wolves.

Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions: