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 trout anglers trying their luck during the last couple days of the season. The weather was nice and some nice fish were seen on the ice. He patrolled closed state park campgrounds. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers and rechecked lakes where ice-fishing houses had been. She also checked anglers along the shore of Lake Superior. State parks are still fairly busy and compliance with park-permit purchase requirements continues to be low. Potential visitors are reminded that driving five-plus hours one way to hike or fish really is not a local recreational trip. Please enjoy places closer to home.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports monitoring Lake Superior and various tributaries for spring trout and salmon anglers throughout the past week. Tributaries near state parks and a few other easily accessible waters have been infiltrated with anglers, with a few reporting tying into some fish. Hill monitored state park buildings and campground areas. A reminder that lands, buildings, and campgrounds owned by the DNR and U.S. Forest Service have many new restrictions on access and use. Be sure to study these restrictions before finding yourself in violation. Some late-season ski passes were checked, along with a few ski pass violations. Station equipment maintenance was completed with the open-water season just around the corner.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to a call of a dead raptor on the side of the road, presumably struck by a vehicle. When retrieving the bird, an adult red-tailed hawk, he saw it had a leg band. In reporting the band, Woinarowicz learned the bird had been banded in Saskatchewan, Canada when it was too young to fly in 1994. It is truly amazing that this bird lived in the wild for 26 years.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) monitored the last of the ice anglers this past week as ice conditions have deteriorated past the point of safe usage. A call was made by a passerby about two bald eagles locked together in a field. Lawler arrived and observed the eagles struggling and exhausted, lying in a field with their talons locked together. He used a jacket and a wood stick to pin them to the ground, and then he unlocked their talons so they both could fly away. ATV and goose-shooting complaints were also investigated.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) tended to equipment maintenance and seasonal changes. Angling locations were monitored. Slatinski assisted a local agency with a call about an individual with little clothing on who was suffering from exposure to the overnight temperature of 16 degrees. He also handled miscellaneous animal-related complaints. It soon will be that time of year when baby wild animals will be entering the world. People are reminded to leave baby animals alone. The best chance for survival is with their mother, so don’t broadcast their location but instead save a memory and leave the area.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers and ATV riders, conducted a decorative materials investigation, assisted the Hibbing Police Department with an intoxicated pedestrian lying in an alley, dealt with a complaint of a goose caught in a beaver trap and issued a beaver permit. Enforcement action was taken for no state park permit, a minnow trap violation, and ATV violations
CO Angela Londgren (Cambridge) patrolled local lakes, rivers, state parks, and WMAs. Several inspections were conducted on public water and wetland violations. Enforcement action was taken for allowing illegal operation of an ATV by youth, fire-related calls, and taking frogs out of season.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) spent time returning calls. Many people are still out and about enjoying nature and calling with questions or concerns they see. People are reminded to leave wildlife alone, especially as fawns – and other baby animals – start to show up.
CO Clint Fitzgerald (Rochester #2) reports many people were out at the parks and trails around Olmsted County during the past week. Fitzgerald and CO Kyllo responded to a complaint concerning a turkey trapped in an enclosed courtyard. The adult tom could not get enough altitude to fly over the top of the building. The officers were eventually able to get the turkey out by herding it through two sets of doors. Enforcement activity for the week included operating a watercraft in a closed area, no angling license, youth lifejacket violations and expired watercraft registration.
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports working a busy week on the Mississippi River. Fishing was fair to good and most folks caught some fish. Compliance was high. Violations encountered were no license in possession and an overlimit of walleyes. Boyum received a phone call from a concerned farmer about one of his cows. He had found the cow dead with various parts missing. Upon further investigation, it was determined the cow was shot from the road and someone stole the prime cuts of meat. Anyone with information should call the Mower County Sheriff’s Office.
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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