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) attended rifle training at Camp Ripley. He patrolled the BWCA and staffed a Department of Public Safety booth in Grand Marais. Enforcement action was taken for angling, boating and ATV violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked boating and angling activity during the past week. Several nice trout and salmon were caught on Lake Superior as anglers escaped the heat wave and bugs that were abundant on inland lakes. Enforcement action was taken for invasive species and license violations.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) responded to a call from some concerned people about a deer acting suspiciously. The deer was gone by the time Vinton arrived. After reviewing pictures taken by the people it didn’t appear the deer was sick. Just maybe sick of the deer flies and mosquitos. Vinton provided the contact information for Wildlife if they have any additional questions or need for information.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) and his K9 partner Si assisted in locating burglary suspects who were hiding in an abandoned hotel.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) gave assistance to the Michigan DNR after they notified him of a collared wolf that was believed to be deceased. The wolf was located and found to have been struck and killed by a motor vehicle. Over the past year, data from the collar showed the wolf travelled from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, all over Wisconsin, back to Michigan and then into Minnesota before being killed by the vehicle.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) fielded a dumping complaint. The reporting person advised that a large number of spent shotgun hulls and multiple dead pigeons were discarded on an area township roadway. A name on a box left along with the other litter provided all the answers Silgjord needed.
Northwest RTO Greg Oldakowski received a call about a pair of individuals with a fawn in their possession for the past several weeks. They were trying to save the orphaned fawn. In all likelihood the deer is now too attached to people and won’t be afraid of humans. It likely will never be able to be returned to the wild.
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