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 (Grand Marais) checked anglers on remote trout lakes along the border during a work detail. Some nice fish were seen on the ice. He checked snowmobilers out enjoying the trails. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, snowmobile and angling violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended an Honor Guard meeting in addition to station patrol work. Manning worked a Canadian border detail with COs Wahlstrom and Williams and U.S. Forest Service officer Belmore. Lake conditions were very good, although fishing success was mixed. Snowmobile trails are icy and have a few bare spots, but still are very rideable for this time of year.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports venturing into the BWCAW during the past week. With the help of the local U.S. Forest Service officer, multiple groups were checked. Lake trout were biting and one angler was cited for using a power auger. Equipment maintenance was also handled and evidence from this past fall was disposed of.
CO Adam Seifermann (St. Cloud) reports receiving wildlife-related calls involving skunks, bats, coyotes, swans, bobcats and bears. He also investigated a complaint of a deer possibly being illegally taken/dumped on a property. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display ATV registration/numbers, no fishing license in possession, traffic-related offenses and failure to extinguish/supervise a campfire. He also reports assisting an intoxicated person, assisting another agency with a traffic stop and issuing a deer-possession tag.
CO Nathan Benkofske (Milaca) reports checking ATV riders and enforcing burning regulations now that most of the snow is gone. Benkofske brought a 1-month-old bear cub from Isanti County to the wild animal hospital in Garrison. The cub appeared to be abandoned by its mother after being alone for a few hours in below-freezing temperatures. Benkofske spotted the mother bear later in the day with a 1-year-old cub from its last litter. The newborn cub could not be taken care of in that case and will be raised at the hospital until old enough to be released into the wild.
CO Garrett Thomas (Eagan) primarily spent time checking river anglers as the ice in the area continued to melt on local lakes. Thomas also responded to multiple wildlife-related calls and answered a multitude of questions about the new turkey hunting regulations. Additionally, he took a call in which the caller stated that they had found a dead and “likely shot” bald eagle. Upon arriving on scene, Thomas educated the caller that it was actually an old hen turkey, and had likely died of natural causes.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. Many pike anglers were checked, but their success was low and sporadic. Anglers are reminded that dead smelt and herring need to be VHS disease-free certified. Anglers are reporting pike biting on dead bait, live suckers and hotdogs. Violations for the week included possession of non-VHS certified bait, angling with an extra line, expired ATV registration and no angling license.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to a call of orphaned black bear cubs in a cornfield. He and CO Elwell located the cubs and transported them to the Wildlife office, from where they were taken to a wildlife rehabilitator in central Minnesota. He also worked a detail on Lake of the Woods with Lt. Benjamin. Enforcement action included ATV and snowmobile registration violations, angling with an extra line, possession of marijuana/drug paraphernalia, possession of dressed filets on special regulation water and angling without a license.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) patrolled the station for angling and recreational vehicle activity. Snowmobile trails are deteriorating quickly, with some trails in the station being closed for the season. Check with local snowmobile clubs for trail updates before you ride. Elwell and CO Woinarowicz responded to a call of an injured sow bear with cubs. The sow was deceased upon arrival, so the two COs secured the cubs and transferred them to area Wildlife staff. The cubs will be placed with a collared, currently hibernating sow with cubs of the same approximate body weight. The sow will accept the two cubs as her own when she wakes from her winter slumber.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers and ATV riders, attended a Bear Committee meeting in Grand Rapids, and located a suspected shoplifter who left the store. Bozovsky turned the individual over to the Hibbing Police Department. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom
218-370-0244
Kylan Hill
218-387-4393
Mary Manning
218-387-5285
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