CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) assisted with ATV and firearms safety classes. The classes have become very small with only four kids completing the ATV course and three completing the firearms course. No matter what kind of outdoor activity, encourage your kids to ditch the screen and get outside this summer. The officer did a patrol on a border lake with the U.S. Border Patrol and did a couple of canoe patrols.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) participated with the DNR Honor Guard in St. Paul remembering the 277 fallen Minnesota peace officers on Law Enforcement Memorial Day. The officer helped volunteer instructors teach ATV and firearms safety classes, assisted Cook County with an offhighway motorcycle complaint, and checked anglers. Manning also took a call of a deer that appeared to have been shot from an area roadway. Upon examining the animal, the officer located and removed a stick one inch in diameter and over 15 inches long from inside the animal’s chest cavity.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers, ATV riders, and boaters. Time was spent teaching at the ATV riding safety course and FAS field day. The officer also assisted the State Patrol and Border Patrol. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, boating, and angling violations.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) took a complaint that a dog was killed by wolves, and the investigation is ongoing with assistance from Wildlife Services. Also, a complaint of anglers intentionally snagging sturgeon was received and is under investigation.
CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) assisted with four red-breasted merganser ducklings that were rescued in the ditch of State Highway 371. A state trooper was in the area and responded to ensure the ducklings’ safety after citizens completed the rescue. Sullivan assisted with the ducklings being transported for care.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) handled numerous wildlife calls including nuisance fox, beaver, bear, and an unusual report of an aggressive beaver that was shot while attacking a dog and a person in a residential area.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) responded to a call of a capsized motor boat with two fishermen floundering in cold water. The capsized boat looked like a rock in the distance except for some bright coloring on a PFD that became visible when one of the men moved. The officer was able to use his canoe to quickly get to the men with one of the S & R team members onboard. One party member had no PFD. Fortunately the victims had hung onto the capsized boat, but hypothermia had prevented the men from being able to get out of the water on their own.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) reports that a call was received and investigated of an individual shooting at geese that were occupying his front lakeside lawn. The individual admitted to being frustrated with the nuisance fowl and also claimed to have removed three shovels full of lawn fertilizer. Five .22 shells were discovered at the scene and enforcement action was taken.
CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) took a report of a bear that had killed a deer and dragged it across the person’s yard in the daylight. The deer was found a short distance into the woods but appeared to be a car-killed deer. Several reports of beavers doing damage were also reported and permits were issued to have them removed.
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! Report
Leave a Reply