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 steelhead anglers along the North Shore. Some nice steelhead were caught in area rivers. The officer returned calls regarding wildlife complaints, checked ATV riders, and worked border lakes.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) attended a meeting and training during the week at Camp Ripley as part of the Wildland Fire Investigation Team.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) checked anglers on border water lakes. Ice conditions are deteriorating quickly with the warm temperatures and the officer watched one angler’s ATV drop through the ice and slush as he exited a lake – fortunately he was able to power out of the hole without a tow. Manning checked steelhead and lake trout anglers on Lake Superior and its tributaries. Anglers new to steelhead fishing should be sure they review the regulations for fishing the tributaries as it does differ from other river fishing. The officer also followed up on a TIP complaint from earlier this winter.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) responded to a wildfire and enforcement action was taken when the owner of the property who was cutting wood with a chainsaw leaked gas near a campfire. With very dry conditions, the grass started on fire quickly and got out of control. People are asked to check with their local DNR forestry office for burning restrictions this time of year.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) was contacted by a nurse to report concern over a beaver biting a toddler in the abdomen. The beaver was reportedly dispatched on site by the child’s father. The nurse and treating physician were concerned about the transmission of rabies to the child. A call to a state licensed veterinarian was done. The nurse was advised by the veterinarian that the beaver would not be a host of rabies.
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