CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that with the very cold temps, we may go from questionable ice to needing an extension on the ice augers in short order. With the lack of snow on the ice, some lakes now have 20-plus inches of crystal clear ice on them. A few snowmobilers and anglers were checked, but the temps have kept the outdoors fairly quiet. A few snowshoers and skiers took advantage of the bright moonlight also. Snowmobile registration issues were dealt with during the week. Snowmobilers are reminded that their registrations pay for snowmobile trails and that unregistered snowmobiles will not be overlooked.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) worked a BWCA detail in the Ely area. The officer also followed up on issues from the previous weekend’s trout opener and this fall’s bear season.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers and snowmobile activity. The trails are starting to improve with the recent snowfall. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) responded to a call of an injured bald eagle near Salol which was collected and brought to a rehabilitator. The bird was diagnosed with lead poisoning.
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) reports that a complaint from a resort on Mille Lacs ended with a party being charged with litter. Various items were thrown down fishing holes in a rental along with human feces outside the house. On the brighter side, while checking a fisherman who was doing construction inside his house, he caught a 27½-inch walleye and was insisting that the CO stay because he was good luck.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) handled a dogs chasing deer complaint where the dog owners had told their neighbors “to just shoot the dogs” if they see them. While working fishing enforcement on one area lake, CO Kuske checked two guys fishing where Kuske warned them to clean up their cigarette butts around their fish house. When they got back to the access they also had litter where their car was parked, vehicle tabs that had expired in July, and no car insurance. Citations were issued and then they couldn’t get their vehicle up the hill out of the access and CO Kuske, and a generous bystander, helped push the car up the hill.
CO Mike Krauel (Milaca) took a call of a bear walking in circles on an area road. The bear appeared to be sluggish from hibernation and appeared to have been hit by a car.
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!
Leave a Reply