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) spent the week working anglers, ATV riders and invasive species enforcement. He conducted multiple patrols in the BWCAW. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports contacting anglers, canoers, recreational boaters, and a host of ATV operators throughout the week as some nice weather hit the North Shore. Brook trout and walleyes were again seen dominating the stringers this week with some nice-sized fish being seen. Boating safety and ATV violations were non-existent as operators did a great job with making sure they followed the laws. No fishing license in possession was the only infraction encountered during the week.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted with a grassfire in Hovland. Due to a quick response from fire crews, the lucky homeowner only lost some brush, not any buildings. She also responded to a call for a couple stuck on an area snowmobile trail. The couple drove almost a mile on an old forest road before burying their all-wheel drive vehicle. The multiple use road designation meant no citation, just a very large tow bill. Manning also patrolled area forest roads, state parks, lakes, boat accesses and rivers. She also participated in a Peace Officers Memorial with the DNR Honor Guard in Duluth.
CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) worked anglers and boaters most of the week. Weather held a lot of folks at bay along with the lack of angling success. ATV complaints were handled and time was spent handling nuisance animal calls. Bears are very active and please remove bird/wildlife feeders and stow garbage in a secure location. COs in the area handled two separate calls at the same time of fledgling great horned owls out of nests. The Raptor Center recommended attempting to nest the fledglings in man-made nests. Schmidt attended the Law Enforcement Memorial Procession along Lake Avenue in Duluth on Friday, May 15.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with K9 training in the metro area. Time was also spent checking shore anglers and patrolling area state parks. A report of someone recklessly discharging a firearm in an area state forest was also looked into. The suspect was already gone when officers arrived. A call of someone finding a car-hit armadillo south of Wrenshall was looked into and verified. A young gentleman located the deceased animal in the ditch of Highway 23 while he was checking the mail. He wanted to keep the armadillo to have it mounted and was given permission to do so.
CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) spent a lot of time on the water-working anglers this week. She also encountered high ATV and OHM activity with some violations. She handled a call of a loon that was found dead on the lakeshore wrapped up in fishing line. It’s a tough reminder to anglers to ensure your line does not get left in the water. Littering in the lakes can have serious consequences to the wildlife that make it their home.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) monitored fishing activities on area lakes and found a good walleye bite to be occurring. The Mille Lacs night ban on fishing was worked, along with bowfishing complaints. A neighbor dispute over beaver activity was also mediated. Starr also assisted county deputies with a case involving an individual who shot a gun to scare off a bear in his yard, only to send a bullet through the wall of a neighboring house. Luckily, the two neighbors are on good terms.
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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