Weekly conservation report

[Lee Borgersen]

                                 District 8 - Duluth area

Last updated: 2017-03-20



CO Caleb Silgjord (Brookston) spent the week assisting with waterfowl training for officers at Whitewater State Park.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) followed up on fish house removal and litter issues related to ice houses. Officer Schmidt taught at a firearm safety class in the Hermantown area, followed up on a fire investigation, and met with the county attorney on upcoming cases.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) spent time working fishing enforcement along the north shore of Lake Superior. Many people have been shore and boat fishing when conditions allow. Area lakes were checked for ice houses and litter. Time was also spent following up on past incidents and investigations.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked angling activity on area lakes and conducted patrols in the Fond du Lac State Forest, Sawyer & Sandell WMA?s; as well as Moose Lake State Park. Enforcement contacts for OHV operation, equipment, and no state park vehicle permits were encountered. A few last chance ice anglers were observed. Ice conditions continue to deteriorate and caution is advised. Calls on dumped deer carcasses and a wolf were received. CO Humphrey, along with CO Staples, attended a Career fair at the Fond du Lac community college speaking with students about conservation officer careers and job duties.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended a career fair at Fond du Lac College that was a host to several different area high schools. A meeting with the DNR fur committee was attended and media interviews were conducted. Extra patrols were conducted in the area of the Nemadji State Forest. The forest is closed to protect area roads and trails while the ground thaws.

                                  District 9 - Brainerd area

Last updated: 2017-03-20


CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) observed very little angling activity this past week due to poor ice conditions. CO Sullivan assisted a landowner with current information about a wetland violation and also observed burning violations in the area.

 CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) attended EMT training at Camp Ripley and patrolled area lakes for some late ice anglers. Several ATVs were contacted this week, one resulting in a DWI.

 CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) assisted with teaching waterfowl enforcement techniques to the last conservation officer academy on the Mississippi River. CO McGowan also checked late season ice anglers on area lakes and also answered questions pertaining to the upcoming turkey and boating season

 CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked ATV?s and dirt bikes. Officer Hunter received information of an escaped deer and started an investigation. A special thank you to those monitoring social media sites and reporting suspicious activity.

 CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reports that he worked on fishing enforcement this past week. The ice anglers that are out are finding some active pan fish. The ice conditions are poor and unpredictable crusty ice ridges and slush are becoming dangerous. Officer Posner worked on a trespass complaint of a coyote hunter and checked anglers with an extra line and no license. Complaints of trash left on the ice by anglers were reported and investigated.

 CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked pan fish and ATV activity. A few complaints were handled and the officer also assisted with waterfowl training.


                            District 10 - Mille Lacs area

Last updated: 2017-03-20


CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked fishing activity as anglers made use of the extended northern season on Mille Lacs. Local ditches are free of snow which is bringing out the ATV traffic. He also followed up on an ice house left out late, checked some beaver trappers, and recovered a dead eagle.
 
 CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) investigated a prohibited burning violation where the property owner unknowingly dumped hot ashes from a wood stove onto the grass starting a grass fire. Enforcement action was taken for the violation. She also patrolled for illegal ATV use in the Nemadji State Forest which is closed due to trail conditions. CO Speldrich investigated a call of a dog caught in a trap which turned out to be a small breed puppy caught in a rat trap. The puppy was not harmed. She also received a call of eagle and other protected animals dumped at a WMA. Further investigation showed the animals were actually chickens and domestic ducks illegally dumped.

 CO Dan Starr (Onamia) checked fishermen and ATV activity with a few folks still venturing out on the ice. A penned deer was checked on with the Board of Animal Health and found to be legal. CO Starr is looking into an illegal fire and assisted the Sheriff?s Office with an ATV and driver that fell through the ice on Mille Lacs Lake. The operator got out fine, but the ATV is still in the water.

 CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) found a handful of late season ice anglers still out on ATV and on foot. Recent cold evening temperatures had ice on many lakes very accessible with about one foot of fairly decent ice in many spots. Shorelines and areas of moving water had thin ice or open water so those venturing out still had to be very careful. Lack of snow cover also created conditions for a few fires to get away from homeowners trying to burn up yard debris. Complaints of trespassing ATVers were also handled.

 CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) received calls about nuisance and injured animals. He also took calls on burning questions, ATV operation in State Forests, and ice condition inquiries. State forests in the Pine City area are currently closed to motor vehicle use. Snow cover is also gone throughout much of the area. If you are burning legal materials larger than a campfire, be sure to get a burning permit.

 CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) patrolled area state forest and checked for damage on closed roads along with illegal ATV use. Area lakes had a few pan fishermen out trying their luck which seemed a bit slow. It is advised to use extra caution when on ice in days to come with warm temperatures arriving.

                                                District 13 - West Metro area

Last updated: 2017-03-20


CO Brent Grewe (Minnetonka) spent the week responding to complaints and training with his K9. CO Grewe also helped out with a security detail at central office. Violations this week included failure to register a deer.

 CO Chelsie Leuthardt (Prior Lake) spent time walking several WMAs looking for tree stands and other items left behind from the previous hunting season. CO Leuthardt had a ride along who is interested in becoming a conservation officer. She also monitored state park and ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken on operating a Class 2 ATV in a road ditch and a juvenile without a helmet on an ATV.

 CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) worked anglers and ATV activities in the metro area and took a call on a dead owl in Minneapolis. Officer Lee also answered questions to the Asian community on bear hunting regulations and firearm safety classes.

 CO Tim Maass (Osseo Station) spent the week in training at Whitewater State Park. Time was also spent handling several wildlife complaints.

 CO Thephong LE (ELCOP) met with Iowa Conservation Officers and Lt. Lisa Kruse for enforcement action and closed a case of the illegal sale of small game and big game. He spent time checking anglers on the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers in the metro area. Calls for service were returned which included motorized vehicle on a non-motorized trail at Fort Snelling State Park and nuisance animals.

 CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia) spent a majority of the past week at Whitewater State Park participating in the waterfowl school. Ice has finally cleared the access on Lake Waconia and boats are starting to make their way out onto the lake. Remember that the water is still very cold and boating safety is more critical than ever due to the low temperatures. Also don?t forget to ensure your watercraft registration is up to date before taking your boat out.

 CO Leah Weyandt (Mound) patrolled Lake Minnetonka for ice anglers and even spotted a boat on the water before the lake froze over again. Time was spent enforcing snowmobile regulations on the Luce Line State Trail after the recent snowfall. A call was received of three deer spotted on Diamond Lake after seeing four deer walking previously in the day. No deer was found to have fallen through the ice, the deer were spotted on a neighboring pond.

                                                   District 5 - Eveleth area

Last updated: 2017-03-20


CO Darrin Kittelson (Int?l Falls) reports two incidents of people going through the ice on Rainy Lake in the last week, one involving a snowmobile and the other a Class 2 ATV. In both cases the operators were able to get out safely, however the machines did not fare so well. People again are encouraged to use extreme caution and need to be prepared for the worst if venturing onto the ice as ice conditions can change hourly. Wearing a lifejacket and having ice picks on the ice are not bad things to be wearing this time of year. Enforcement actions for week involved ATV violations.

 CO John Slatinski (International Falls #2) reports time was spent at waterfowl enforcement training with the remainder of the week focusing on fishing activity. Lack of proper registration on both snowmobiles and ATVs continues to be frequently observed. Now that boats are being removed from storage and used it is a good time to check and update registration on these as well.

 CO Colleen Adam (Ray) found the fickle weather this week allowed work from squad to snowmobile to ATV. Anglers are still trying to find fish but the ice conditions on the lake are getting less and less safe every day. Open water is showing up in known current areas and around rocks. Shelf ice, caused by receded water levels, caused one snowmobile to go through on Kabetogama. Officer Adam worked on pending cases. Enforcement action was taken for expired snowmobile registration and ATV?s on islands within the national park.

 CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes and angling activities. Few anglers and fewer fish observed in the bag. Area forest roads were monitored along with public access sites. Seasonal equipment transition is on-going.

 CO John Velsvaag (Cook) checked anglers this past week; activity was slow. CO Velsvaag also received several complaints about litter on the ice.

 CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) worked ATV and snowmobile enforcement. The officer, along with county deputies, worked the water skips and spoke to individuals about the new enforcement regarding the skips. The officer also took a complaint of a dead eagle and dogs chasing deer.

 CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke at a Firearms Safety Class in Gilbert and completed annual online training. Very few anglers were seen out and ice conditions are still holding up. CO Frericks GPS?d and photographed the few remaining ice shelters on Virginia area lakes prior to the removal deadline.

 CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) spent a lot of time working on forestry related issues of birch trees being cut off state and private land and being sold as decorative material. Ice fishing is still going and houses have been removed. Car deer accidents have increased due to deer eating in the ditches where the snow has melted.