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 he did his last snowmobile patrol of the year as warm weather made for bad sledding in short order. A few others did get out during the week and enjoyed the last of the snow and warm weather. The CO also checked North Shore streams and found fishing was better as you got closer to Duluth.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked steelhead anglers along the North Shore rivers, ATV riders in the area, and handled wildlife complaints. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and angling violations and driving after revocation.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) issued a road kill deer permit and reports that spring green-up is just starting and the deer along Highway 61 have been very active and difficult to distinguish from grasses. The officer checked steelhead anglers on Lake Superior tributaries; fishing success was mixed, but all were happy with the nice weather. The officer checked fish sanctuaries near the big lake as well as inland, took several reports of wolves with extreme cases of mange and heard of at least one black bear awake and looking for food. Manning also assisted with a firearms qualification shoot at Camp Ripley.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) reports that the highlight of the week was the delighted squeal of a 4-year-old boy excited to meet a Conservation Officer to the dismay of the shunned State Troopers and deputy that had also stopped at the same gas station.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) received an unusual complaint of a young lady stealing an egg from a goose nest in Fergus Falls. Decent video evidence by one of the complainants will bring the investigation to a close shortly.
CO Leah Weyandt (Mound) received a call about a deer impaled on a residential fence. The CO arrived at the home and found the deer to have been dead for a week and cut the deer off the fence.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) handled a call from a homeowner who had a problem bear that wouldn’t quit coming around the house. The bear was eventually shot after it injured the family dog, showed signs of aggression toward the family and wouldn’t leave after warning shots were fired.
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
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