DNR WEEKLY REPORT

[Lee Borgersen]

                      DNR WEEKLY REPORT


Posted: Tuesday, September 2, 2014



Here are highlights from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer (CO) reports for the week ending Aug. 25, 2014. The complete report is available at www.dnr.state.mn.us/enforcement/co_report/index.html

In the Wadena area, CO Greg Oldakowski responded to a call of vehicles stuck on a closed forest road. By the time he arrived, the vehicles were gone, but the damage was done; and documented.





Near Longville, CO Duke Broughten investigated a complaint of an individual shooting a goose. He also investigated an overlimit of walleyes, during which the angler claimed to be stockpiling for a family reunion. The fish were seized and enforcement action will be taken.

CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) investigated two buck deer found dead. One was found floating in a farm pond with bite marks on its hind quarters. The other was in a township road ditch with its head cut off. Halverson also investigated complaints of jet ski operators chasing loons.

A recurring problem involving a dog roaming at large in McCarthy Beach State Park campground was investigated by CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing). The responsible party was dealt with.

A group of five ATV riders were stopped near Cotton by CO Matt Frericks. Four of the five lacked current registration and the fifth was operated by a juvenile who was not wearing a helmet. Enforcement action was taken against all five.

Near Grand Marais, CO Darin Fagerman responded to  a trapped wolf from a wolf depredation complaint. The wolf appeared to be very old and too weak to hunt naturally, so it had been targeting dogs, cattle and chickens.

In the Duluth area, CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked fishing activity along the St. Louis River. It didn’t turn out well for some anglers after the officer recognized two he’d dealt with in the past and knew they had their licenses revoked. They were both cited; again. The next angler down the shore also was angling without a license. He was from California and was back in the area visiting relatives. After running his information, he was found to have two outstanding gross misdemeanor warrants from his last visit to Minnesota. He went to jail with a ticket for angling without a license.

CO Matthew Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) responded to a call of an injured raptor and discovered a redtailed hawk that was struck by a vehicle. The hawk was transported to a rehabilitation center for treatment.

CO Amber Petersen (McGregor) worked a couple of shifts on Lake Superior and checked an angler who was double his limit. He attempted to convince the officer that he had a limit for himself and one for his dog. Further investigation of his freezer led to the discovery of several more fillets.

Near St. Cloud, CO Caleb Silgjord stopped a young ATV rider and found several violations. After issuing paperwork, Silgjord tried to give the operator a regulations book. The operator tossed the book into the box on the officer’s patrol vehicle and stated, “I don’t need that.”

In the east Metro area, CO Brad Johnson (Ham Lake) responded to a call about a bald eagle that may have been caught in discarded fishing line in St. Paul.