MN DNR Weekly Report 3/12/13

[Lee Borgersen]

 3/12/13
                      MN DNR Weekly Report


District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports receiving a complaint of a vehicle stuck on a snowmobile grant and aid trail. The driver of vehicle was found to have a felony warrant, so along with going to jail he was also handed a citation for operating a motor vehicle on a snowmobile trail. Snowmobile trails are still in excellent shape; however, still lots of slush on area lakes. The total snow accumulation for Int’l Falls is reaching 80 inches for season. Other enforcement action for the week included excessive snowmobile speed and no current snowmobile registration.


CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports more snow over the week thus increasing slush on area lakes, travel on lakes difficult, fishing poor, very few anglers observed. Those who have fish houses on area lakes have their work cut out for them as the deadline approaches.


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports the good timing of frequent snowfalls has kept the area snowmobile trails in very good shape. They seem to get beat up midway through the weekends but the base is there and the groomers fix them right up. Most of the fish houses have been removed from area lakes.


CO Dan Starr (Tower) monitored snowmobile activity and found that the trails are in extremely good condition with very few people out riding. Follow up investigations on snowmobile cases. Fishing activity is slow, as most people are busy plowing snow. Complaints of abundant wolf populations continue to be heard.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked snowmobiles, a diminishing number of anglers, completed a training course and processed evidence from closed cases. Boreal owls have been perishing with a third owl turned in two weeks. The officer received a call of a road killed bald eagle; however, the eagle had been picked up by an unknown passerby prior to the officer’s arrival. It is unlawful to possess bald eagles and many other migratory birds so the person needs to re-think their actions. Two ruffed grouse were observed doing their classic plunge into deep snow for their nighttime roost. Enforcement action for the week was for several snowmobile violations.


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke at a Firearms Safety Class in Mt. Iron and spent time patrolling area lakes checking anglers. Few anglers were seen out on Virginia area lakes and most people are in the process of removing their houses from the lakes. Recent snowfalls have brought snowmobilers out and area trails are in good shape.


CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) spent time on state snowmobile trails; not many riders considering the excellent condition of the trails. A vehicle that got stuck on a state trail was towed off. Slush has appeared on some lakes making access difficult so few fishermen out. Fredin attended FAS meeting to plan upcoming classes.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) monitored fishing and snowmobile activity during the week. Some lakes now have shush showing up on them after the warm up and heavy wet snow. Anglers are reminded to take all blocking material and debris with them when removing ice shelters for the season. Murray assisted a stranded motorist that went in the ditch during the recent storm that made for hazardous winter driving conditions.


CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) executed a search warrant with other COs, deputies, and an agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a result of an ongoing commercial bear guiding operation. Several items were seized including a beautiful bear rug made from a bear that was shot unlawfully. When the man asked what was going to happen to his bear rug, CO Fagerman mentioned that it could possibly be used for the Wall of Shame. The man was happy with that and stated that he would at least be able to see it when the Wall of Shame is displayed in the area.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers and ice houses on area lakes in and outside the BWCA. Snowmobilers were also checked on the North Shore State Trail. Reports of dying owls continue to come in during the irruption. The officer also handled a road kill deer situation, answered questions about expiration dates for angling licenses and handled vehicle repair issues.


CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) reports that he worked the Deer Classic at The National Sports Center in Blaine. He transported an injured Boreal Owl to The Raptor Center. CO Johnson reports that angling activity has slowed now that some seasons are closed. He checked snowmobilers during the week.


CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked snowmobile enforcement and observed a lot of tracks traveling past “No trespassing” signs and road gates/cables. The snow conditions are good, so cross country travel is possible. These people are taking some pretty big risks if they are trespassing on property where it is not legal to be. Respect private property.


CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt /Ely) spending time on litter, fishing, and snowmobile enforcement. Recent snows kept snowmobilers happy. Enforcement action was taken for litter. A reminder to all to pull up your lines if you are going out to visit a neighboring ice house, take care of personal business in the woods, etc.


Ely #1 - vacant.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked snowmobiling and angling activity in the area. Enforcement action was taken for expired registration and angling without a license in possession. CO Sutherland also assisted the county with a broken down snowmobiler. The sled was towed to the nearest road crossing and loaded into a truck.


CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, snowmobiles, and ski trails. He also taught a snowmobile safety class and attended a district meeting during the week.

Snowmobile and ski trail conditions are excellent.


CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked angler activity and fish house removal progress on area lakes, attended training, processed accidentally caught furbearers, and patrolled area snowmobile trails. Enforcement action taken for several snowmobile speed violations.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored snowmobile activity, assisted the county with a pursuit and a stranded snowmobiler also attended a district meeting. Lots of slush and deep snow has made it tough to get around on area lakes. The area snowmobile trails are in excellent condition. Enforcement action was taken for operating a snowmobile with expired registration, speed, no angling license in possession, stolen vehicle, flee in motor vehicle, DWI and possess over limit of perch.


CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) checked anglers and worked snowmobiling activity this past week. She also attended a creeper fair day at the Greenway High School. She attended a district meeting with fellow officers and worked a snowmobile trespass complaint in the Cohasset area.


CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) spent the week working snowmobile and fishing activity. Enforcement action was taken for no trail sticker, fail to display registration, operate snowmobile without safety certificate and allowing the illegal operation of a snowmobile by a juvenile. Wichmann found a snowmobiler operating an unregistered snowmobile who had a local warrant. Wichmann also attended a district meeting in Grand Rapids.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) checked anglers and snowmobilers. The trails are in excellent condition as long as you stay on them. Deep snow and slush are hampering anglers and snowmobilers on area lakes. CO Arhart also tracked Wetland Conservation Act cases and he attended a District 7 and a USFS law enforcement group meeting, where aquatic invasive species enforcement efforts were discussed. Enforcement action was taken for public access violations. Fishing success is good if you can get to the fish.


CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) and COC Belgard finished up phase 4 of Belgard’s field training. He will now be assigned to the field. They spent the week working fishing and snowmobiling enforcement. Snow conditions continue to be good with the recent snowfall. They spent time working Lake Winnibigoshish as the perch fishermen are starting to get out. A group of three non-residents was checked and found over the legal limit with charges filed.


CO John Velsvaag (Region II ATV officer) checked snowmobilers this past week and fish house litter complaints. CO Velsvaag attended a district meeting and assisted the U.S. Forest Service with a trail project.




District 8 - Duluth area


CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) worked area snowmobile and ski trails. Trails are in great condition with recent snowfall. Area lakes and rivers were checked for ice house removal dates. Officer Schmidt attending training in the metro area.


CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports time was spent marking area ice shelters to insure on time removal and that all associated debris is also removed. Radar enforcement was conducted along some of the area’s snowmobile trials. Several speeders were cited. The officer also attended training on identifying fake ID’s and passports. A Great Gray Owl was turned in to be used for educational purposes. Several injured deer, problem coyote, fox and raccoon calls were also fielded.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) made arrangements and delivered the TIP wall of shame for a future event in the metro area. Officer Duncan also completed training, returned many calls from the public, and worked a complaint area involving snowmobiles and cross country skiing.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked snowmobile and angling enforcement during the week. Area snowmobile trail conditions were in good shape with recent snowfalls. Registration and speed enforcement contacts were made. CO Humphrey patrolled the Fond Du Lac State Forest checking cross country ski passes. Area lakes were checked for house removal and litter. Anglers were having some good catches on pan fish. Violations for failing to remove fish house after deadline, leaving fish house on public access, litter, snowmobile speed and registration were dealt with.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with a search warrant in the area that dealt with bear hunting violations. Investigations looking into an illegally possessed bobcat and unlawful waterfowl hunting are currently ongoing. A citizen that hit a bobcat with his car prompted a phone call to this officer looking for a permit to keep the cat so he could mount it. When the officer went to the location to retrieve the bobcat, the bobcat was nowhere to be found. Further investigation revealed that tracks in the snow from two wolves showed the wolves took the cat and most likely made a meal out of it. Snowmobile activity remains in the area with trail conditions in good shape. Enforcement action was taken for speed and registration violations. Complaints of unleashed dogs and allowing dogs on groomed ski trails continue to come in at Jay Cooke State Park. Extra patrol in the area showed this to be the case. Enforcement action was taken for no ski pass, unleashed dogs, and allowing dogs on the ski trails.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) attended a TEP meeting in Carlton County. Discussion at this meeting dealt with issues on a person who is looking into building several red clay dams on public waters and private land. An interview with MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association was attended. Work with local officer on wetland issues and upcoming AIS issues for this summer work details.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


Sgt. Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) assisted district officers with a follow up investigation concerning a big game case from bear season in Carlton County. Shore anglers along Lake Superior checked in the Duluth area. Assisted the St. Louis Sheriff’s office with a hit and run accident. The driver was located and determined to be three times over the legal alcohol limit. The recent heavy snowfall had many snowmobilers operating on roadways and not in the ditches. Assistance was also rendered with a one vehicle rollover accident in Canosia Twp.


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked shore anglers and snowmobilers. A local college student accompanied the officer on a ride along as part of a class for school. Shore anglers were found to have some success with Kamloops and Steelhead rainbow trout. While speaking with a group of snowmobile riders at a road crossing, another snowmobiler on a shiny new sled passed the group on a high snowbank. When the rider went to cross the road, he gunned the throttle, spraying the group with snow and gravel. This sort of riding gives all snowmobilers a bad image. Enforcement action taken for snowmobile and angling violations.


CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers, fish houses, and snowmobilers throughout the week. One angler was found to have too many lines out with three tip-ups outside and two lines down inside his fish house. He knew the pike season was closed, but thought he could still fish for them. He also lied about his date of birth trying to portray himself as 15 instead of 16, since he did not have a fishing license. The officer also finished up a commercial investigation. He dropped off some old equipment and picked up some new equipment. He attended some training. Enforcement action taken for angling, fish house, commercial, and snowmobiling violations.