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 Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area roads and trails and participated as part of the Minnesota DNR Honor Guard at the funeral for Red Lake Conservation Officer Shannon Barron. Nuisance bear activity appears to have eased, but folks are advised to keep the bird feeders in storage and keep a clean yard or campsite to minimize conflict.
CO Shane Zavodnik (International Falls) assisted the State Patrol with a commercial vehicle that had gone off the road and into the ditch of the opposite lane of traffic. The driver admitted to operating in the opposite lane of traffic because it was newly tarred but then had lost control.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked with the Alexandria Police Department in rescuing a barred owl tangled in fishing line and hanging upside down near a popular fishing pier. The bird was gently handled, cleared of all the tangled line and successfully released.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) spent most of the week working complaints and investigations, including littering, a fish house violation, ATVs in a state park, failing to submit a bear tooth as required, shooting a bear, and intentionally running over and killing three Canada geese. Charges may be forthcoming on the bearshooting incident.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton), while driving on the interstate, observed a vehicle swerving and driving slowly. After pulling up alongside the vehicle, Staples observed the driver reading a book while driving. He was stopped and stated that he was having vehicle problems and was reading the owner’s manual to try to figure out what was wrong. A State Trooper was contacted and enforcement action was taken.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) investigated an injured calf that had been bitten by a large predator and had to be put down. There is no solid evidence of what broke the 3-week-old calf ’s back, but teeth marks would suggest a bear.
CO Kylan Hill (Zumbrota) reports that a boat owner was spoken to last week for launching a PWC with expired registration. The owner was grateful that Hill allowed him to load the PWC back on the trailer with no citations being issued. However, the owner took advantage of Hill’s generosity as he was cited over the weekend for allowing a 13-year-old to operate the still-unregistered machine more than 40 minutes past allowed hours.
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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