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 tributaries and ATV activity in the Tofte and Schroeder areas. The water temperatures are climbing and the fish are cooperating for some anglers. Calls about nuisance wildlife are increasing with the arrival of spring.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) followed up on a wetland investigation during the week. Lake Superior rivers and inland accesses were also checked.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted as part of the DNR Honor Guard with the funeral for CO Eugene Wynn. The outpouring of support for the family, friends and fellow officers by local folks in Pine City and officers from around the country was very much appreciated and makes the loss a little easier to bear.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) is investigating a complaint of night shooting and illegal dumping of trash.
CO Sean Williams (Ely) assisted the St. Louis County Sheriff ’s Office with a recovery on Echo Trail near the BWCA. Several agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Border Patrol and the St. Louis County Rescue Squad spent hours searching the area after a suspicious abandoned campsite was found. Several articles were located that required further investigation and the results are still pending.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) reports that a couple of irresponsible anglers dumped a pile of dead fish at a local access. This careless act gives all bowfishers a bad name with local residents.
CO Shane Zavodnik (International Falls) spent time focusing on fire enforcement. In one particular event, an individual started what was intended to be a small ditch burn. But it got away from him and burned the entire field and also spread into the woods. Luckily, the fire was slowed down enough and suppressed shortly thereafter. The individual quickly admitted to starting the non-permitted fire, and it was apparent that he knew it could have ended up being something much more serious.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) helped bust an underage drinking party at a U.S. Forest Service remote campsite with many underage consumption citations issued.
CO Tim Collette (Brainerd) responded to a call of a capsized sailboat with two people in the icy water, and towed to shore the floating floor of an abandoned fish house that couldn’t be taken off the lake before the ice was too unsafe.
CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) had a young ATV operator get stuck in a wetland while operating on a snowmobile trail. His father responded to help get him out and got stuck with his SUV.
CO Annette Kyllo (Pierz) contacted four juveniles riding two unregistered dirt bikes in a ditch and jumping a field drive for a YouTube video. They had deliberately disobeyed their parents by riding to the area thinking they would be able to get a better jump for the video. Enforcement action was taken.
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