MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

          MN DNR Weekly Report

Aug 22, 2016 
 
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports working on equipment over the week, coordinating work with DNR Forestry, dealing with ongoing beaver problems, and monitoring area lakes and public access sites. Wild rice beds continue to be monitored.

CO John Velsvaag (Cook) checked bear baiting activity and anglers this past week. CO Velsvaag investigated a complaint of illegal motor use on hunter walking trails and illegal fishing. CO Velsvaag attended a fisheries input meeting for Lake Vermilion.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) received a few calls on a “white” grey wolf hanging around the roadway on Hwy 1 east of Soudan. By the end of the day the wolf appeared to have moved on to other areas. The officer continued working bear baiting and fielded numerous questions on the upcoming deer season. The officer is investigating a possible over-limit case. The Officer also assisted the sheriff’s office with civil work on Lake Vermilion.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) continued training a COC and primarily worked boaters, anglers, ATVs, Lake Vermilion, bear bait station enforcement, the state park, and worked a TIP complaint of an over limit of fish. The officer assisted Hibbing PD with the capture of a suspect who escaped their custody. Enforcement action was taken on no angling license in possession, OHV trespass, no park permit, and several ATV and boating violations.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) spent time checking bear baiting activity and assisted with getting hunters to locations of problem bears. Fredin responded to calls of fires burning asphalt shingles and was called to a cabin residence burning trees during closed burning hours. A FAS law presentation was giving in Palo and an ATV law presentation was given at the Gilbert OHV Park.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) attended a field training officer class and spent time checking anglers and boaters on Virginia area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license and insufficient PFDs. Questions were answered regarding bear baiting.


Ray - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports several nuisance bear reports were taken over the week as berries and other natural food sources have become scarce and bird feeders and apple trees become too tempting. One of the reports was of a bear approaching a person who was baiting bears for the upcoming season. The bear refused to leave the site and after a standoff managed to get the bait bucket from the baiter. Officer Williams was asked to come to the bait to observe the bear’s behavior and advise the hunter. When he arrived at the bait the bear was not located but the lost bait bucket was a short distance from the bait. When Officer Williams walked up to the bucket which had been partially covered with pine needles the bear appeared out of the heavy brush and lay next to the bucket, although Officer Williams was only a few yards from the bear it refused to move. After spending time assessing the situation the bucket could not be recovered and the group left the area.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) talked to fishermen and looked for bear baits. Hunters are reminded to register their baits and to follow the rules on. Officer found better compliance with out of state canoe registrations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers on area inland lakes. The officer also checked bear bait stations and reminds hunters that established bait stations must be registered online within 24 hours or by mail on the next postal service day. The officer also followed up on open bear hunting, littering and vandalism complaints.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) checked bear baiting activity. Some baiting violations were detected. BWCA entry points are still very busy, and bug conditions are good for camping. Anglers checked during the week were doing okay on several species of fish. Additional violation included no type IV PFD.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused enforcement efforts on bear bait stations and angling activity. The officer spent time on Lake Superior checking anglers, some nice trout were seen in the bag. Enforcement action was taken for keeping fish in closed season and license violations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked bear baiting and ATV activity during the week. Hints of fall approaching are becoming visible as leaves are slowly starting to change colors in the northland. A commercial bait retailer was inspected and a nuisance beaver call was handled. Enforcement action was taken for ATV licensing violations.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) met with a local landowner to discuss wetland laws and permitting procedures, handled nuisance bear calls, and worked ongoing cases.

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked ATV, sport fishing, and handled miscellaneous nuisance animal calls. He patrolled state park areas, state forests, and public water accesses. He prepared for firearms and defensive tactics training for the division. Violations included ATV on roadway, no license in possession, and navigation lights.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, worked boat and water enforcement, monitored bear baiting and handled wildlife calls. CO Fairbanks and his K9 partner answered questions and participated in a K9 demo at the Itasca County Fair. CO Fairbanks and Si also assisted in locating a suspect that led the local police department on a high speed chase and fled into the swamp on foot. The suspect was located the next morning after he spent the night in the mosquito infested swamp.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked anglers and bear baiting activity over the past week. CO Sutherland took enforcement action for baiting bears with solid waste, hunter harassment and for angling without a license. Work was done with the City of Grand Rapids Police Department on individuals that were checked angling that had warrants and possessed drug paraphernalia.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATVs, state parks and campgrounds. He also checked bear baiters during the week.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Hill City) continued to monitor the bear baiting activity in and around the Hill City area. Several questions regarding the upcoming bear hunting season and legal bear baits were fielded from public. Nuisance animal complaints were also taken and followed up on. Enforcement action was taken for unlawfully transporting live fish.

District 8 - Duluth area CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) received a TIP call regarding a party that had two live Canadian Geese.  Duluth PD Officers assisted in locating the party and the geese were removed and sent to waterfowl preserve. Officer Schmidt worked the Duluth Harbor and Lake Superior during the tall ships event

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent time working fishing and boating enforcement on area inland lakes. ATV activity was also worked at previous complaint locations. Several bear hunting locations were checked for litter and other possible violations. Officer Duncan assisted with boating enforcement during the tall ship event that took place in Duluth. Time was also spent returning calls.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) continued work on livestock depredation complaints reported to have been caused by wolves. CO Humphrey assisted with the tall ships event in Duluth and worked the harbor area over the weekend w/ CO Schmidt. Patrols were conducted in the FDL Forest for OHV and bear baiting activity. A report of an injured eagle was received with assistance given. Several questions were received about upcoming hunting seasons and permit deadlines. Violations for litter, watercraft operation, registration and PFDs were encountered


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with security patrols for the tall ships event in Duluth. ATV and OHM complaints were worked in the area. Enforcement action was taken for underage operation, passenger without a helmet, registration, equipment and illegal road crossing violations. Some fishing activity in the area, although not a lot of fish were being caught. Enforcement action was taken for license violations. Complaints on waters and wetland violations were followed up on in the area. More investigation is ongoing with both complaints.


Brookston - vacant.

 Lake Superior Marine Unit

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) spent time on patrol boat maintenance, anglers, and boater checks on Lake Superior. The tall ships detail was worked in the Duluth-Superior harbor. Bear complaints are picking up in the Woodland and Lakeside neighborhoods. AIS enforcement also worked on area lakes.


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) and a COC investigated a public waters complaint involving the possible removal of a Beaver Dam on an area lake. Time was spent giving an ATV Safety presentation in Duluth. Considerable time was spent on Lake Superior assisting with the Tall Ships Festival in the Duluth Harbor. Several bear baits were monitored. Area ATV trails were patrolled.