CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended annual use of force instructor training and in-service planning at Camp Ripley. While at Ripley, Manning also assisted with scenarios for the Conservation Officer Academy. She took calls on BWCA camping, nuisance animals and the upcoming bear season.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers on area lakes, attended in-service at Camp Ripley and followed up on complaints.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV and angling activity during the week. Fishing success was varied but most anglers willing to put up with the biting bugs caught fish. Murray investigated illegal garbage dumping at a state campground and personal watercraft being operated too close to shorelines.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) monitored invasive species regulations and contact was made when two vehicles pulling boats passed the officer on the right shoulder of the highway as he was waiting for traffic turning left in front of him. As the boats went by it was noted both had their drain plugs in. Contact was made with both parties with appropriate action taken.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent some time checking remote lakes and found a couple of individuals from out of state trying their luck at fishing from kayaks. As the kayakers were paddling back to the public access they noticed Grundmeier waiting at the dock to do a check. They pretended not to notice an officer standing there, turned around, and started paddling the other way. They were eventually tracked down and cited for fishing without a license.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) investigated a wolf depredation complaint and a report of a dead deer stinking up a neighborhood along the Snake River.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) reports being called to Fishermen’s Point campground in Hoyt Lakes on a bear that climbed a tree after being scared up it by individuals. Once the area was cleared of people the bear climbed down and walked off.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports activity this week of looking into bridges placed over a river in a manner that illegally obstructs navigation and investigating a situation where a lake service provider sold a used boat lift contaminated with zebra mussels to an unknowing customer and sent them down the road illegally with the lift to be put into another lake.
Hadrits also looked into a report of a strange-looking, unidentified wild animal that was shot after exhibiting threatening behavior toward a dog and person. Unfortunately, the critter was disposed of so it can’t be positively identified. However, a photo was taken of the animal and has wildlife experts, veterinarians, and Minnesota Zoo personnel guessing and in disagreement as to what exactly it is.
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!
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