Conservation Officer Tales

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 Mary Manning (Hovland) spent the week at Camp Ripley assisting with handgun training for the latest CO Academy. She also aided with the return of a canoe that had been lost on an area lake after heavy rains and flooding.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports monitoring boaters, paddlers, and anglers all week. Muskies are being caught like mad on Crescent and Boulder. Smallmouth bass are also finding their way into the livewell. A few no-license-in-possession and no-throwable-PFD violations were handled. Hill and USFS Officer Belmore spent time on ATV. They encountered a very lost party driving on a severely washed-out road without cell coverage. The officers were able to point them in the right direction. Time was also spent in the BWCA.

CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checked anglers, monitored ATV and OHM activities, and responded to TIP reports and animal-related calls. While at a local resort checking anglers, Brown noticed that a fishing rod over the back of an unoccupied boat was moving. Brown walked over and picked up the rod and reeled in a large crappie. The owner came down to the harbor and enforcement action was taken for the unattended fishing line. While speaking to a mother about not having a helmet on her child on an ATV, another member of the party fled on a dirt bike. The individual was tracked down shortly after and charges of fleeing on a motor vehicle are pending. Enforcement action was also taken for parking violations, ATV-registration violations, no PFDs on watercraft, possession of open alcohol containers, failure to drain live wells, no boat navigation lights, and possession of slot northern pike and walleyes.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling activity continued steady through the week, with success tapering off as temperatures became much more summer-like. ATV activity was high over the weekend, with much of the traffic along the newer developed trails. Please remember there are still some closed ATV trails due to flooding and damage. Remember to check before planning your trip and be conscious of signs while traveling.

CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports patrolling by ATV and watercraft. He also spent some time on routine maintenance and assisted another agency with a DWI arrest. He received a call from a family that had brought baby cygnets home and wanted to raise them. The cygnets were picked up and brought to a local animal rehabber. As a general reminder, leave wild animals in the wild where they belong. In most cases the parents are off feeding and will return to their young.

CO Tyler Ramaker (La Crescent) responded to urban wildlife calls including two rattlesnakes near homes. A person was found to have a raccoon living with them (by choice) in their house. Possessing live, protected wild animals is generally not allowed. To legally rehabilitate or otherwise possess protected wild animals, a special permit is required.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking ATVs and anglers. He worked an ATV detail with Hubbard County-area conservation officers to target high-use areas. Swedberg also worked a TIP call of an individual taking fish using a net at an area dam. He was able to get to the area and watch the person use a landing net to scoop up several fish. Thanks to the TIP call, Swedberg was able to find the group of people and found there were several more issues on top of the netting violation.

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) contacted an individual who admitted to doing damage in Beltrami Island State Forest, including driving through a metal gate. Assistance was given to the Lake of the Woods Sheriff ’s Office with a drowning at the Northwest Angle. Other various ATV and AIS enforcement actions were taken.

CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) spent the majority of the week checking anglers and boating safety along with working AIS enforcement. A pair of kayakers decided to go out onto a lake on a windy day with whitecaps. Both kayakers ended up in the water and a person on shore called 911 as they were unable to see the kayakers. The kayakers were smart, and each was wearing a life jacket. Klehr responded and was able to spot the kayakers in the water and knew they were OK at that point. The kayakers were rescued by the Litchfield Rescue Squad airboat. Klehr also spent a day at the Appleton OHV Park in Swift County working ATV, OHM, and ORV enforcement.