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 anglers along the North Shore. A few fish are cooperating further south. The officer followed up on past investigations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area inland lakes and checked conditions on Lake Superior tributaries. The officer also followed up on a TIP complaint, assisted Cook County on a reported domestic call and cleared out evidence from now-closed cases.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) came upon a fisherman in the wilderness who was frantically trying to reel up his extra line before the officer could get to him. He claimed it was a nonexistent person’s line, inside his fish tent. He also tried to casually hide his aluminum beer cans, but then claimed he had never known cans and bottles were illegal in the BWCA.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) reports that swans and geese were observed returning to the North Shore, signaling spring is in the air.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) located a dead female yellow lab that was wrapped in a blanket and recently dumped on the powerline between Country Club and Lamppa Road. The officer is seeking information on who may have done this. This was a very inconsiderate location to get rid of a dog. Two raccoon calls were also handled.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) handled several wildlife complaints, including a turkey that was hanging around an elementary school parking lot. While entertaining for some, it created a hazard for others.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) observed a broken dog sled on a lake that some fishermen had gathered for the dump, helping clean up the lake. A short time later, a sober driver was found towing two intoxicated people on the broken sled behind his truck. Though legal, the sled was already broken and could have been dangerous to ride on.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom 218-370-0244
Darin Fagerman 218-370-1717
Mary Manning 218-475-0121
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