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 Mary Manning (Hovland) attended Tactical Operator’s Course on boat operation. The officer also checked burn permits and spoke with local media regarding nuisance bears prevention.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) attended the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators course in Superior, Wis.
CO Eric Sullivan (Walker) fielded a report of a bear that had entered a cabin on the north side of Leech Lake and was looking out the picture window in the living room. The cabin owner stated the bear came in through a screen door. The cabin owner’s wife opened up the front door and attempted to call the bear out the front door but the bear remembered his entry point and left through the screen door. Nuisance bear calls continue so please remember to secure residences and property in bear country.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) took a call of two girls, 7 and 10 years old, who were stranded at a gas station because their ATV wouldn’t start. The mom of one of the girls had allowed them to go there to buy candy. The ATV lacked registration. Mom said she got the ATV from her brother, which turned out to be stolen; multiple charges and further investigation are pending.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) handled a call in the wee early hours of the morning. Residents had an unwelcome visitor at 4:00 in the morning: a skunk! It sounded like the skunk wasn’t sure how he got in the house and was looking for an escape route. Checking later, it appeared he took advantage of the escape route the residents left him, without depositing any lasting impressions in their house.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) observed two adults canoeing on the Long Prairie River while consuming alcohol. After one beer was finished, CO Lawler watched him throw the can into the cattails. As Lawler approached them to talk about the littering, one man tried to step out causing the canoe to completely tip over. Luckily it was only waist-deep water, but a good reminder that drinking and boating don’t mix; a citation for littering was issued after all got their footing.
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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