CO Mary Manning (Hovland) investigated a wolf depredation call and a possible trespass issue. Manning worked boat and water patrols, including a detail in the Duluth harbor. One boat operator opted to endanger his entire family by running his boat without required lighting so he could show his grandkids the lake. Officers provided education and sent the boat back to the dock. Manning also patrolled for early bear baits, answered bear-hunting questions and checked ATV operators and anglers. CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) observed emergent vegetation piled on a dock. Upon further inspection, he found the homeowners had removed wild rice from the lake without a permit because it made them feel like they lived on a swamp. Enforcement action was taken for removal of wild rice without a permit, angling without a license, children under 10 without life jackets, and other boat and water safety violations. CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers and ATV riders and responded to wildlife complaints. He worked a detail in the Duluth harbor. Enforcement action was taken for boating violations. CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) came upon two individuals pulling large boulders with a truck from a U.S. Forest Service barricade that is in place to keep out motor vehicles. Enforcement action was taken and they were required to put the boulders back but they found the task much harder having to pull boulders uphill to replace them. CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) reports that an unfortunate incident occurred when an angler was backing his trailer into the Mississippi River. The man’s foot slipped off the brake pedal while he was half in the vehicle, sending him falling as the vehicle moved backward. He rolled out of the way while his pickup backed into the river and became submerged. A diver was called and the vehicle was removed. CO Sean Williams (Ely) assisted the St. Louis County Rescue Squad with locating a missing camper on Crooked Lake in the BWCAW. The missing person had not returned the night before after leaving the campsite on foot to fish. COs Williams and Velsvaag took a U.S. Forest Service aircraft along with Rescue Squad team members to the campsite near the Canadian border where he was last seen. Fortunately, while setting up equipment and discussing the search method, the USFS aircraft sighted the lost camper several miles from the campsite. The pilot was able to land and pick up the victim. When he was returned to the campsite the camper told the rescue team that he had taken a different route back to the campsite and had gotten disoriented when he came to the other side of the lake. He continued to walk along the shoreline trying to find his campsite in the opposite direction.
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