REGIONAL DNR REPORTS

[Lee Borgersen]

        MN DNR Weekly Report !

 May 24, 2018

 


 
District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (Int’l Falls) reports fishing, boating, and invasive species enforcement on Rainy Lake and Rainy River were the main emphasis of work activity.  A possible wolf depredation was investigated along with several nuisance animal complaints. People are reminded to have all necessary boating safety equipment onboard as it’s the law, along with the fact you never know when you will need it!


 






CO John Slatinski (Ray) fielded several calls involving injured and suspiciously deceased animals, assisted with a livestock depredation complaint, issued a special beaver permit and also noted an increase in complaints involving beaver related activity. Fishing activity was monitored and reports of increased success were heard.



CO Troy Fondie (Orr) checked area lakes and angling and boating activities. Public access sites were monitored.  CO Fondie also assisted the DNR Fisheries Division.


CO John Velsvaag (Cook) checked anglers over the opener this past week.  Fishing was slower than expected but some nice fish were seen.  Many questions on the new pike regulations and still getting beaver complaints, many from returning cabin owners.  CO Velsvaag also assisted with a nuisance bear complaint and worked an ATV complaint area.


CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) investigated a wildfire this week where three structures were destroyed, luckily no one was injured.  The officer also spent time on Vermilion.  The bite appears to be picking up and reports of fish being caught in Big Bay.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) primarily worked anglers, boaters, invasive species enforcement, investigated a beaver trap theft, continued a fire investigation, and worked a border detail in the Grand Marais area.  It’s been some time since an angler used the phrase, “I didn’t think I needed a license if I was only catch and release fishing.”  The unlicensed angler’s rationale was wrong and he was cited.  Enforcement action was taken on angling without a license, no license in possession, angle with extra lines, and a number of boating violations.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) attended the Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony in St Paul as a member of the DNR’s Honor Guard. An incident where a landowner was excavating and filling a wetland was investigated and a cease and desist order was issued. CO Frericks worked on writing reports for numerous investigations that were completed. Several cases of litter are also being looked into.






International Falls #2 – vacant.
District 6 - Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports he assisted the USFS after he was contacted about a large group on Basswood Lake with a campsite full of federal and state violations. After several hours of travel, he and other local law enforcement officers contacted the group and a total of five citations were issued. After the contact, the leader of the group told officers he was sorry for the way they had acted and that he realized they were guests in the BWCA.


CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) did a patrol in the BWCA, checked anglers and boat and water safety equipment.  An ATV patrol was also done into remote designated trout lakes.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) spent most of the week helping teach handgun skills at the DNR Academy at Camp Ripley.  The officer handled a call about a dog chasing deer and took reports of an abandoned vehicle on DNR land as well as contractor and beaver damage to a couple forest roads.


CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked predominately sport fishing enforcement in and out of the BWCA.  Time was also spent on a septic land application issue.  Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, extra line, unmeasurable northern on special regulations lake, using illegal smelt for bait, and litter.


CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked at the Academy most of the week.  Time was also spent checking anglers and boating activity.


CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked boating and fishing activity during the week. Fishing is improving in the area as water temperatures warm up. Wildfire danger is still high in the area and caution should be used while burning, making sure your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving. A complaint of litter was investigated and enforcement action was taken for licensing violations.


Ely #2 – vacant.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and boaters, enforced AIS laws, and patrolled for illegal ATV operation.  Worked ongoing cases, handled wildlife complaints, and assisted Itasca county search and rescue with a ground search.


CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked ATV activity, fishing, small game enforcement, boating, AIS, and state forest campgrounds.  Violations included fail to drain water related equipment, walleye over-limit, transport walleye w/o skin patch, uncountable fish, ATV on roadway, watercraft registration, no PFD, fail to transfer ATV ownership, ATV equipment, allow illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, and no license in possession.  He also dealt with various wildlife complaints. 


CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, responded to fires, handled nuisance/injured animal calls and monitored OHV activity. Anglers had better success this week. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and possession of illegal length walleye and northern pike.


CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked opening week of fishing with success limited due to the ice just coming off area lakes the week prior.  Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, not having enough life saving devices on board a watercraft, and for not having the proper registration on an ATV.


CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working angling, ATV, boating, and AIS enforcement throughout the surrounding areas.  Time was spent completing arson investigations from the past week. 


Hill City – vacant.


NE ATV officer – vacant.
District 8 - Duluth area
CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) attended the Peace Officer Memorial Day ceremony in St. Paul on behalf of the Division's Honor Guard. A TIP call was investigated regarding fishing in a closed area and enforcement action was taken. CO Willis also met with the Twin Ports Walleye Association prior to their weekend tournament.


CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) spent much of the week checking shore anglers and anglers on area lakes. Time was also spent handling nuisance animal complaints and followed up on a waters violation. The officer also attended an ATV safety class and a rules meeting for a local fishing tournament.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) continued to work fishing and boating enforcement around the Duluth area.  Time was spent working accesses talking with boater about AIS regulations. Smelting activity and spring fish run activity continued to be worked also during the week and illegal burning and wildfire issues were also investigated.  People are reminded that when fishing on lakes with special size restrictions they shouldn’t have the “close enough” attitude when measuring.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked angling, boating, OHV, AIS, and turkey hunting enforcement throughout the week.   Patrols were conducted in the Moose Lake state park, Sawyer WMA, and the Fond du Lac state forest. CO Humphrey attended the Law Enforcement Memorial Day services in St. Paul as part of the Enforcement Division’s Honor Guard.  CO Humphrey completed follow-up interviews and wrapped up investigations on several ongoing cases. Violations for OHV operation and registration, driving after suspension, operating a motor vehicle in unfrozen public water, and watercraft safety equipment issues were encountered.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) responded to a report of two separate grass fires near Cloquet. One was started by a transformer at some power lines and the other is still under investigation as to what caused it. A report of a bear with an injured leg was received. No other sightings were reported after the initial report.  Extra patrols were conducted in area state parks after receiving various complaints. Enforcement action was taken for having dogs unrestrained, illegally harvesting plants, no vehicle permits, and various traffic violations. AIS and OHV patrols were also conducted in the area with enforcement action taken for unlawful juvenile operation of an off-highway motorcycle and registration violations
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked the spring fish run along the North Shore during the week.  He reports the rivers are still taking decent runs of fish, water levels have dropped, and rain is needed. CO Olson fielded several questions and comments on the new northern pike regulations for NE MN, checked shore anglers on the lakes north of Duluth with many having success on the walleyes still in the shallower waters. Officer Olson also fielded complaints of illegal equipment used for smelting along park point and worked ATV and fire enforcement inland.


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers on Lake Superior and the St. Louis River.  Special regulation sections of the synopsis are worth a read this time of year; several people were found in violation of special regulations on the river.  Superior is putting out some salmon and lake trout on the surface, along with a rare brown trout. Work was completed on Academy training regarding watercraft operation.  Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.


Lake Superior Unit – vacant.