MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

           MN DNR Weekly Report
 Apr 13, 2015
 
District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports a busy week with increased activity on the Rainy River with hundreds of boats and thousands of anglers taking advantage of warmer weather. CO Kittelson along with other COs responded to a forest fire in the Birchdale area, people are reminded of the burning ban/ restrictions and responsibility of burning activity.  Enforcement action taken for week included; no license in possession, transport drain plug in boat, drug paraphernalia, small amount of marijuana, illegal length walleye, and over limit of walleye.


CO Jim Van Asch (International Falls) spent time working angling and boating enforcement on the Rainy River. The walleye bite remains to be on the slower side although; anglers are still managing to put a couple fish in the boat. CO’s Kittelson, Hansen, Patten, and Van Asch responding to a fire call just outside the Birchdale area that required several neighboring agencies to respond to suppress the fire. People are reminded of the burning restrictions throughout the state. Enforcement action was taken for over limit of fish, failure to display valid boat registration, insufficient number of PFDs, and no Type IV PFD.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area forest roads and working with the new DNR computer records system. Small streams have started to open.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) spent the week monitoring the spring fish run. Time was also spent enforcing ATV laws specifically dealing with wetland and youth issues. Officer is working on ongoing trespass issue in a state park. Officer met with Vermilion Sports Club. It was a good opportunity to meet many of the members and answer questions related to Lake Vermilion enforcement. Reminder that the fire danger is high and restrictions are in place.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) conducted commercial minnow retail inspections, worked on evidence dispositions from past cases, and attended a DNR Commissioner’s Office listening session in Chisholm. The officer investigated a complaint of a large amount of oil contamination on an area lake. The officer was unable to locate the point of origin, but the incident was turned over to the MN Pollution Control Agency.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke at a Firearms Safety Class in Virginia and spent time patrolling for ATV and OHM traffic. High numbers of ATVs and OHMs have been encountered recently. Enforcement action was taken for allowing illegal operation of an OHM by a juvenile and registration violations. Owners and operators of ATVs and OHMs are reminded check and ensure their machines are currently registered before heading out on the trails and that if they had recently purchased their machines to register them in their name. Area streams and rivers were monitored for fish run activity.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked spring beaver trapping and spoke to a few trappers who stated low water and low beaver prices are limiting trapping activity. He assisted with Hoyt Lakes’ youth FAS range day. Fredin responded for assistance in locating a lost 3-year-old who wandered away from home. Thankfully the sheriff’s deputy K9 unit located the youth. Time was spent investigating the theft of decorative birch material from state land. Lake ice is about off on most of the smaller lakes. Lake water levels are very low and in need of significant rains.

Ray - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports warm weather over the weekend quickly melted much of the lake ice in the area. Many of the smaller lakes checked are partially open. Officer Williams also performed several inspections of minnow dealers and retailers, a high level of compliance was found with most businesses.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) checked some ATVs and worked on an old fish house litter left on the ice case. The ice has gone out on the many of the rivers and the geese and swans have returned. It is looking a lot like spring and the lake ice is not safe. The crappie fishermen are done and waiting for the open water. For your own safety stay off the ice.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports there was at least one guy finding enough snow to ride his snowmobile during the week. Lakes are just begging to pull away from shore, but there is lots of ice left. The CO checked remote lakes and lakes along the border during the week. A moose shed hunter was encountered during the week with a couple of nice trophy antlers found in a faraway secret spot.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) gave a presentation for Babbitt High School’s Environmental Science class. Time was spent on ATV and commercial enforcement, equipment, animal calls, and a background investigation.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling activity. Ice was still tight to the shore and access was easy. With warmer weather the ATV activity has picked up, and with it the complaints. It will be a long ATV season, so riders don’t need to have all their “fun” on the first ride, please ride safe. Time was also spent checking some commercial minnow retailers.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) followed up on TIP calls about taking fish out of season. Lake Superior tributaries were check with only a few fish being caught. Water is still very low. The Officer did commercial inspections on minnow retailers and dealers with a few violations that took place. Ice anglers were checked on area lakes where two feet of ice still remains on some lakes.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling, ATVs/ORVs and trapping activity during the week. Ice conditions have finally deteriorated along most shorelines in the area. Several questions were answered on Lake Superior fishing opportunities.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and trappers, completed commercial inspections on minnow retailers, responded to wildfire calls, and patrolled for illegal ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked spring trapping activity. He spent time assisting other officers patrolling and checking anglers in the Rainy River area. CO Hansen provided an emergency response to a wildfire that threatened structures and caused driving hazards due to smoke. Enforcement action was taken for possession of small amount of marijuana.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) worked trapping complaints, attended training, monitored OHV activity and assisted the county with a barricaded suspect. CO Fairbanks and his K-9 partner Si also gave a K-9 demo in Hinckley. Enforcement action was taken for OHV registration issues and operating on the roadway.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) checked beaver trapping activity this past week. She also took a complaint of nuisance beaver causing problems with a road. She finished an investigation involving a trap that was left out past season and she is working on commercial minnow activity enforcement and annual checks.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVs, spring beaver trappers and assisted forestry with fire enforcement. He also checked commercial licenses during the week.

CO John Velsvaag (NE Region ATV Officer) checked ATV activity this past week. Several areas with road closures were worked but illegal activity was low. CO Velsvaag also checked litter around ice fishing areas before conditions deteriorated at the end of the week. CO Velsvaag received calls about mange in coyotes and ice conditions in the region.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) spent much of the week handling calls concerning wildlife issues. Calls regarding wolf depredations upon dogs and cattle were investigated. A report of a possible wild hog was investigated and advised DNR Wildlife personnel. Duluth Police Department assisted with a bear that was climbing a tree in a residential area and came into contact with a power line. Wild fires and structure fires were investigated and assistance was provided to St. Louis County on a couple large fires in the area. ATV complaint areas were worked. Calls regarding trout stream and Lake Superior angling were handled. Officer Schmidt assisted St. Louis County with a crash involving injuries.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reported fire conditions in the area were very high. The officer responded to several out of control fires over the past week. A few smelters are showing up on Park Point and along the North Shore. Lake Superior trout fishermen were also checked for compliance. A couple ATV violation were encountered and enforcement action taken.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to work fishing enforcement along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Several fishermen were also checked fishing in local tributaries. Officer Duncan responded to several local wildfires and assisted with enforcement while on scene.  A variety of wildlife calls were fielded during the week and many telephone calls were returned. Smelting activity was also monitored.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked angling, off-highway vehicle and fire enforcement throughout the week. CO Humphrey monitored area lakes for ice out and fish run activity.  Most area lakes were free of ice over the weekend. CO Humphrey checked shore angling activity on the St. Louis River in Cloquet. CO Humphrey patrolled area State Parks and in the Fond Du Lac State Forest where road/trail closures are in effect. CO Humphrey attended a DNR listening session in Chisholm with other district officers. CO Humphrey received calls on burning, nuisance animal, and firearms safety. Angling and OHV violations were encountered

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked extra patrols in the area state parks. Enforcement action was taken for no vehicle permit and allowing dogs off leash. A tip call resulted in charges on two individuals that were shooting a turkey from the back of their pickup truck off of the road. An individual witnessed the violation and reported it to the TIP line. Enforcement action was taken on both individuals for trespass, take turkey out of season, transport loaded uncased firearm, and discharging a firearm at a wild animal from a motor vehicle. Assistance was given at detector dog testing in New Ulm where 84 dogs were tested on their abilities to search and find the odors that they are trained on. With the warmer weather, time was also spent getting equipment ready for the summer season.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) spent the majority of the week working fishing enforcement along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Angling activity on the local tributaries was also worked. Several boats were checked at Lake Superior accesses during the week. Wolf and beaver complaints were also fielded.