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 Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a local snowmobile club trout derby on Gunflint Lake yielded very few fish. Snowmobile trails are in excellent condition, but subject to change quickly at this time of year. Unattended lines and people with no fishing licenses were encountered. One young man was sitting in a fish house with his laptop and video games, but no fishing pole.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked lakes and trails. Anglers report slow fishing success. Manning took care of office work, checked ski passes, state parks and SNAs.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers on area lakes and monitored snowmobile activity. Fishing has slowed but a few fish were in the bag for those who put their time in. The officer received calls regarding snowmobile laws and car kill deer.
CO Mike Lee (Isle) received a call of a coyote that had been caught in a snare trap. Lee learned from the property owner that the traps were also placed on his property without his permission. The coyote was dispatched and follow-up investigation will follow.
CO Brad Johnson (Maplewood) rescued an injured bald eagle on the St. Croix River in Bayport. The eagle had been injured in a territorial fight with another eagle. Both eagles were still holding on to one another when he arrived. The injured eagle was transported to The Raptor Center for treatment.
Johnson was called by the Oak Park Heights Police Department to retrieve an American coot that had landed in a mall parking lot. While Johnson was in the process of capturing the coot, a red-tailed hawk swooped down and grabbed the coot. Fortunately for the coot, the hawk let go. The coot was transported to The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) spent the week checking anglers along Lake Superior, where anglers were switching between ice angling and shore angling depending on what the winds and ice did. Two veteran anglers got wet when the wind started to pick up and the ice cracked and started to flow out into Lake Superior. They had to jump into about neck-deep water to get to shore and were assisted by other anglers.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) contacted two individuals who were fishing on an area lake and had two northerns on the ice. During the contact Osborne observed the odor of burnt marijuana in the fish house. The occupants gave the rest of the marijuana and paraphernalia to Osborne. Enforcement action was also taken for litter, unregistered snowmobiles, fish shelters left on the ice after the deadline and possession of northern pike out of season.
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