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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 lakes and monitored the transportation of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). He also responded to several nuisance-animal calls and checked ATV riders and state parks.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) helped with annual firearms qualifications at Camp Ripley. She took calls on BWCA fishing, backcountry camping and off-highway vehicle operation. Manning passes on a bit of advice from a local tow driver: “Just because it worked in the TV commercial doesn’t mean you should try it yourself.” This week’s example involved a car that had to be pulled out of the beach rock with a tracked groomer.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports certifying eight students during an ATV field day held at the Cook County High School. A big thanks to the volunteers who make it all possible. Hill took a report of dumped animal carcasses in Schroeder. Enforcement action for the week focused on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) as the area boat accesses were full of activity. One boat plug violation was handled.
CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) rescued a bear cub after the sow was hit by a car on Interstate 35. The cub will be rehabilitated at the Garrison Animal Hospital. Speldrich received a complaint of a bald eagle being held captive in a dog kennel. The “eagle” was actually a Polish chicken and had a black body with a white plumed head. The owners aptly named it Que Ball. She also assisted with a firearms safety field day.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) dealt with an increase in reports of wolves harassing livestock, as well as quite a few nuisance-bear complaints. A few landowners found out firsthand that momma bears, when visiting garbage cans and birdfeeders, don’t always scare away very easily when they have cubs with them. Unseasonably hot weather also had more boat traffic on area lakes than normal.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked angling, boating and AIS activity this past week. Complaints of jet skis out after hours, a TIP of a bowfisher shooting a large northern pike, plus another of bowfishers dumping their creel in the ditch and bragging about shooting snapping turtles, were received.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) continued to monitor boating and angling activity throughout the station this week. Elwell came upon an angler with a large treble hook from a lure lodged in his hand. Turns out the illegal-length northern pike in the angler’s bucket served up its own justice. A painful experience and a trip to the emergency room with a written warning were punishment enough for this angler. Other violations dealt with included angling without a license, watercraft safety equipment violations, and open-burning violations.
CO Hannah Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. She took calls regarding big-game hunting with a pistol, as well as “abandoned fawns.” Wood would like to remind people to leave fawns alone, if found – not to move or take them, as their mom is most likely nearby. Several minnow-transport permits were issued and she attended training at Camp Ripley this past week. Violations encountered during the week were operating a class 2 ATV on a U.S. highway, no throwable PFD onboard watercraft, angling without a license in possession, child under 10 without a life jacket, and failure to display current boat registration.
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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