MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                            MN DNR Weekly Report
4/1/13


District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports time spent on answering phone calls about owls and picking up three dead boreal owls. The open water fishing has started on the Rainy River so majority of time was monitoring that activity. Some snowmobile activity is still happening in area and people are still attempting to remove fish shelters from Rainy Lake with great difficulty because of all the slush.


CO Troy Fondie (Orr) spent the week working on seasonal equipment transition, station inventory, and equipment up keep with spare time being spent in the office on computer and administrative items. Very little fishing activity was observed during patrols.


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports the snowmobile trails are deteriorating. The warming during the day and freezing at night has created lots of ruts and bare spots on the trails. The grant-in- aid trails—those other than the Arrowhead—are closed as of April 1. A grey wolf complaint was investigated. Dog owners should keep their pets tied up. The thick crust on the snow has made the deer vulnerable, especially those heavy with fawn.


CO Dan Starr (Tower) attended fire investigation training. A few crappies are showing up, with melting and slush making lake travel difficult. Spring activities are kicking up, with numerous ATVs appearing. A reminder to review the laws and check the registration expiration before heading out.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked trout anglers, snowmobiles, ATVs, dealt with an injured great gray owl and a bobcat that was shot by the reporting party after depredating chickens. Considerable time was spent working on a case of a fish house left on the ice after the removal deadline. After being contacted by the officer, the owner did not remove it, but decided to light it on fire. He then covered it with snow and drove a snowmobile over the top of the snow and remains multiple times. He now faces violations of an after deadline fish house, littering, burning prohibited materials and burning a structure on the ice of state waters.


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) followed up on timber wolf issues in the Mt. Iron and Hibbing areas. CO Frericks met with and provided local firearms safety instructor’s materials for classes that are in session. Some ice shelters are still being found on lakes in the Virginia area. The owner of one shelter received a citation for having his shelter on the ice a week after the deadline. CO Frericks would like to remind owners of ice shelters that CO’s can seize ice shelters on the ice after the deadline. Time was spent on Lake Vermilion near the Trout Lake portage monitoring water-skipping activity. Enforcement action was taken for operating unregistered snowmobiles and operating an ATV with too many passengers.


CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) picked up an injured/sick Boreal Owl that later died when being brought it to Rehab in Duluth. He also spent time on Lake Vermilion working snowmobiling activity with violations of expired registration, failing to transfer registration, and no snowmobile safety certificate found. A fish house was located on Lake Vermilion well past the removal deadline. Due to warm temps the house is floating in water. The owner will be contacted and a summons will be issued.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked the final, slushy week of the winter trout season. The officer followed up on several complaints: one on a deer that appeared to have been shot (the deer was gone when the officer arrived and several deer in the area ran off when approached); one of a fish house still on the ice (gone when the officer arrived); and finally on an individual living at a boat access and illegally angling (the party had moved his camp and was found to be cooperative and compliant with regulations). Landowners are reminded that the spring beaver season extends until April 30 with no special permits required for trapping done up to that date. Enforcement action was taken for no trout stamp.


CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) responded to a moose vs. train call in his station. Although the unfortunate incident did not make the animal salvageable for consumption, it did provide valuable tissue samples that were recovered for moose research. The recent warm weather brought an end to the snowmobile season in the area and several flocks of waterfowl and a Great Blue Heron were spotted marking spring’s arrival. Some fishermen were trying their luck with late season pan fish and maple syrup began to flow.


CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports an increase in angling activity with the last weekend of trout season, with spotty success on area lakes. Local snowmobile trails are beginning to become difficult to travel with the warming temperatures and rain. Violations included, angling with too many lines, and expired snowmobile registration.


CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt / Ely) checked trout and crappie anglers on station lakes and in the BWCA. Violations encountered were angling with an extra line and too far from a tip-up. A careless motorist was stopped and cited on Hwy 1. Time was spent beginning to prepare for equipment transition for the spring season. Phone calls were taken about spring beaver trapping.


CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) reports that he issued a possession permit for a bobcat in Finland. He was called to dispatch an injured deer in a yard near Tettegouche State Park. CO Johnson checked some of the late season snowmobilers. He also checked ice conditions on local lakes.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) checked snowmobile and fishing activity. He assisted D-7 officers with a taxidermist check. Area snowmobile trails deteriorated quickly over the weekend with warm temps and rain.


CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, snowmobiles, and state parks. He also worked various complaints during the week.


CO John Velsvaag (Region II ATV officer) checked ATVers and snowmobilers this past week. CO Velsvaag took several complaints of speeding snowmobilers and noisy mufflers. CO Velsvaag observed litter near old fish house locations with the melting snow.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) tracked Wetland Conservation Act cases, planned for aquatic invasive species enforcement details, tended to equipment and attended an arson meeting.


CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked snowmobile activity and attended a wildfire investigator refresher class. With the warmer temps some sportsmen were able to venture onto the ice where the snow had been too deep before. Pan fishing activity was moderate at best.


CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) patrolled for angling activity, and answered wildlife complaints. He continued monitoring fish houses left on area lakes.


CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) followed up with fish house issues and checked anglers. Some snowmobilers were out during the early part of the week but trails conditions quickly deteriorated by the weekend. CO Fairbanks also brought an injured eagle to a rehab facility. Enforcement contacts were made for ATV violations.


CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) attended annual wildfire arson team training in St. Cloud this past week along with other members of the DNR enforcement and forestry divisions. She checked local panfish hot spots for activity resulting in warnings issued for failing to have licenses in possession. She received a call concerning a video that has been floating around on the Internet. The video shows two snowmobilers chasing a coyote on a lake. Information about the video says this incident happened in the Grand Rapids area recently. Anyone with information regarding this matter should contact the local conservation officer or TIP hotline.




District 8 - Duluth area


CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) checked anglers along the north shore. Ice conditions were difficult with the ice flow along the shoreline. Snowmobile trails were patrolled and were in great condition early in the week. Area lakes/anglers were checked. Equipment maintenance for flood prep was performed.


CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reported a few days were spent on snowmobile but they probably were the last as trail conditions continue to deteriorate rapidly. Some anglers were seen out on area lakes but not many fish being caught. Several dead Boreal Owls were again turned over to DNR Wildlife as the difficult winter continues to be a problem for these small birds. A talk was given at a Firearms Safety Class. An instructor was presented with an award in recognition of his 30 plus years of teaching Firearms Safety to local youths.


CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent a couple days on snowmobile working area trails and checking inland ice fishing. Shore fishing along Lake Superior has been busy when fisherman can find open areas with ice. Area Lake Superior Tributaries are still locked up with snow and ice. Officer Duncan received several calls of dead owls found during the week. A firearm safety class was also attended during the week.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked snowmobile, ATV, and angling enforcement during the week. Area snowmobile trails deteriorated rapidly with the warmer weather coinciding with the close of the GIA trails for the year. Ice on area lakes also deteriorated with slush making access difficult. Some pan fish angling activity was observed during the week. Open water on area rivers and streams saw several species of waterfowl returning. CO Humphrey patrolled the Fond Du Lac State Forest. Some ATV activity was observed. Calls were received about conducting a ride along with a law enforcement student and a person photographing bears in a Den.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) reports the snow is melting fast and the snowmobiling season is most likely over. No snowmobile activity was found this past week. Some fishing activity was found, but people are wearing knee high boots because the slush on the lakes is high. The fish did not seem to be cooperating much either. One complaint of an abandoned vehicle was looked into on an area lake. More follow up will be done in the near future to make sure it is removed. K9 training continues with K-9 partner Schody.


Water Resource Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) worked with DNR Fisheries out of St. Paul on an issue with a person who wanted to start harvesting minnows out of an infested body of water near Duluth. The person was requesting that the waterbody they wanted to work out of be approved by the DNR as they had gone to and completed the required minnow training to harvest minnows out of infested waters. Wetland cases were handled and work on certifying a current wetland violation.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers who were anxious to get out on Superior. A few boats were seen fishing between Two Harbors and Knife River. Remnants of a moose struck by a train were collected for the Moose Mortality Study project. A complaint of a possible sick deer was addressed, with advice given to the landowner to stop feeding the deer. Feeding deer concentrates them in a tight area and greatly increases the risk of disease being spread among the herd. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.