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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers on area lakes and monitored snowmobile trails. The slush is extremely deep on some lakes as a couple anglers found out and were wet up past their knees. Caution is advised when venturing out on the ice. The officer responded to wildlife calls in Lake and Cook counties. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a very busy winter weekend. Lots of snowmobilers and trout anglers took advantage of a nice weekend of weather. The CO found a spot where wolves recently fed on fresh moose meat. Enforcement action was taken for failing to register bears, no fishing license, no trout stamps, and many for not having registration numbers displayed on snowmobiles.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) responded to a residence where a bobcat was looking through a home’s window, watching the house cats and dog. The homeowner was able to take very close-up pictures of this seeming unafraid cat; this same cat attacked the neighbor’s small dog causing hundreds of dollars in vet bills.
CO Dustie Speldrich investigated a call of dead deer in a residential area. The caller believed the deer was killed by wolves. An investigation revealed it was more likely killed by coyotes.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) saw a column of black smoke rising from a wooded area. Investigating he found a person burning a trailer house in an attempt to dispose of the old structure. The person was uncooperative and belligerent. Additional officers had to respond to resolve the matter of the illegal burn, which requires a mandatory court appearance.
CO Jamie VanThuyne (Mankato) was assisting local deputies locate a lost hunter when a dead cardinal was found in the woods. The lost hunter was found. A second hunter admitted to shooting the cardinal. Appropriate enforcement action was taken.
CO Hannah Mishler (Warroad) responded to a one-person snowmobile accident near Swift. The subject was looking at the route for a race being held the following day and tried to jump a bank in the ditch, without knowing there was a second bank beyond it. Friends of the subject estimate he was going around 70 mph when he hit the bank (speed limit is 50 mph). He was transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom 218-370-0244
Darin Fagerman 218-387-9751
Mary Manning 218-475-0121
Leave a Reply