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) focused on bear baiting activity and angling enforcement. The officer attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Nuisance bear, badger and beaver calls were handled. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, bear bait station, and firearm violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) attended annual training at Camp Ripley during the week. He took nuisance bear and beaver calls. Bear baits were checked and a trapping case was followed up on. He also did a BWCAW patrol.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) took a report of a dead swan, but it was discovered to be a pelican that struck a power line
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) had several nuisance bear calls where bears were shot for causing damage.
CO Kyle Quittschreiber (Blackduck) was passed by a vehicle traveling at an extremely high rate of speed. When the officer was finally able to catch and stop the vehicle the driver admitted to driving in excess of 100 mph. When asked what he was in such a hurry for the driver stated he was on his way up north to set bear baits.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) investigated a complaint of a campground allowing campers to burn their trash in the fire rings. On the way to the campground Kuske stopped at a residence where she noticed a burn barrel smoking in a front yard. The homeowner was educated on it being illegal to burn household garbage.
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