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 bear hunters and ATV riders. Overall success so far has been great for the bear hunters. Time was also spent on angling and boating enforcement.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) patrolled ATV trails in the area. One individual on an ATV attempted to flee when signaled to stop by the officer for not displaying ATV registration. He attempted to leave the roadway and drive through the ditch into the field. Unfortunately for him he chose a poor area to flee, as he could not get enough momentum to get up the outside slope of the ditch, spinning in the soft soil on multiple attempts where he almost rolled the machine. The contact resulted in his arrest for felony fleeing and DWI, and the seizure of his machine pending criminal forfeiture.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) received a call from an individual wondering what to do with a fox he caught. The officer advised him to return the fox to the wild.
CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reports that nuisance bear complaints are not slowing down – he received new complaints of bear in the City of Baxter, Pillager, Lake Shore and Brainerd. Area farmers are reporting significant damage to corn fields by bear. One local farmer reported as many as 10 bears in one corn field!
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) investigated a complaint of a calf injured by a wolf. It was determined to be coyote after a federal trapper played a barking coyote tape for the complainant and had a coyote answer.
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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