Cook County News Herald

Conservation Officer Tales




CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Pursuit and STOP course on boating operations. Manning also helped instruct at the annual DNR Enforcement in-service training and took calls on damage to state park property and littering.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) attended a boating course put on by NASBLA during the week. The officer also focused time on angling and ATV activities. Bear and beaver complaints continue to come in and were dealt with. Activity in the woods has increased with the opening of bear baiting on Friday.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) assisted other agencies by helping with first aid and security for a deputy and his home/family after he was injured due to an individual shooting a rifle through the U.S. Customs helicopter.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked boating and big game enforcement activities. Murray responded to a car vs. moose accident where a collared moose was struck and killed. Several questions related to the upcoming bear season were answered and a report of illegal beaver dam removal was taken.

CO Joe Kulhanek (Hastings) responded to a call of a boat adrift on the Mississippi River with no one around. Upon locating the vessel it was discovered that it was stolen and the suspects cut a hole in the side of the boat to sink it and destroy any evidence. Unfortunately for them, the boat was filled with foam and it continued to float.

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!



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