Weekly conservation reports

[Lee Borgersen]

Nusiance bear issues, sandhill crane poaching and bluegill as bait
 
  Area MnDNR Conservation Officer Weekly Reports - Aug. 14, 2019
 

District 4 - Walker area

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continued to work on a background investigation of a CO applicant. Training was also attended at Camp Ripley. Some time was spent checking anglers and boaters on area lakes. Complaints about an injured bear and nuisance beaver were also taken.

CO Jacqueline Hughes (Longville) reports checking ATV riders and boating equipment for invasive species. Hughes took a call about a nuisance bear, investigated a found kayak, and assisted the State Patrol. She also spoke at a firearms safety class and spent time at Camp Ripley for training.

District 9 - Brainerd area

CO Tim Collette (Brainerd West) followed up on weed roller and hydro jet issues, met with a property owner on an oversized-dock issue, checked anglers and boaters, attended training at Camp Ripley, and assisted with ongoing training at the CO Academy.

 
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) monitored angling activity on area lakes. Some Division training was attended. Guida assisted at Camp Ripley evaluating Academy candidates during watercraft training week. He and CO Pilot Jason Jensen assisted DNR Fisheries with an evening watercraft flight survey.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) reports assisting with Academy training at Camp Ripley. She also worked boating on area lakes and located several aquatic plant violations involving hydro jets. Ladd patrolled area trails with high ATV activity. Several riders were contacted.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) assisted with Honor Guard duties and attended training.

CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) attended Game Fair and answered questions about the upcoming hunting seasons. Sullivan patrolled recreational vehicle traffic and enforcement action was taken for registration violations, illegal operation, impaired operation and possession of controlled substances. Sullivan also continued enforcement action and education of the illegal use of hydro jets in area lakes.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports checking the park for SRA violations and checking to make sure park users have a state park vehicle permit. Time was spent assisting at the new CO Academy and attending a field training officer meeting. He attended a crisis intervention training during the week. Many outdoor law-related questions were answered during the week and weekend. He fielded a complaint about a nuisance bear and a call about an injured sandhill crane. Enforcement action for the week included various state park violations.

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled Crow Wing County lakes for boating and angling activity. He also spent time teaching at the CO Academy. Enforcement action was taken for aquatic plant violations and numerous boating violations. One boater was arrested for BWI.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area

CO Ashley Whiteoak (Malmo) worked fishing and ATV enforcement. She spent time training with the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office and also followed up on nuisance-bear and -raccoon complaints.

CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) attended training at Camp Ripley. She also followed up on wetland violations and answered questions regarding the upcoming bear-baiting and bear-hunting season.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) attended training at Camp Ripley and worked on some equipment needs. A BWCA detail with CO Bozovsky was worked, with remote lakes checked. Boat registration and PFD issues were addressed. Starr continued to fulfill background investigation tasks.

District 11 - St. Cloud area

CO Annette Kyllo (Pierz) reports that during one routine angling check, an individual stated he had an angling license but had forgotten it back at the cabin. A quick check showed he not only did not have a valid angling license but also, he had a warrant out for his arrest. Kyllo caught up to him at a private dock and took him into custody. Kyllo also spent time this past week helping at the current Academy, dealing with jet skis operating outside the legal operating hours, and juveniles operating ATVs without proper safety certificates or helmets. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) attended the Night to Unite event in Sauk Centre where community members got a chance to meet with law enforcement and other emergency services. An FTO meeting was attended at Camp Ripley. A retirement gathering was also attended for CO Frank Rezac, who patrolled the St. Cloud station. A water safety demonstration was put on for an area Boy Scout event. Youth were provided the opportunity to see an array of PFDs and CO Silgjord’s watercraft.

CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) assisted with a firearms safety class field day with neighboring officers. He also fielded calls from people with questions about the upcoming youth deer hunt.

CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) spent time instructing during boating week at the CO Academy. Several wetland violations were addressed and a firearms safety class was attended. Training was also completed.

District 12 - Princeton area

CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) attended training at Camp Ripley. Follow up was done on solid waste complaints. He also handled animal-related calls.

CO Mike Krauel (Mora) spent the week checking anglers and working boat and water safety. One individual tried to avoid an angling license check by throwing his fishing rod down and walking away from it when Krauel approached. When Krauel asked for an angling license, the individual stated he was not fishing. After Krauel advised the individual that he had been observing him angling, the individual admitted he didn’t have a license and was hoping Krauel hadn’t seen them angling. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license, unattended lines, no life jacket, possession of marijuana, and using a bluegill for bait. Krauel and a neighboring officer also made an arrest for boating under the influence.

CO Nathan Benkofske (Milaca) reports working recreational safety in the field and on the water. Arrests for DWI were made on boat and ATV cases. AIS and nuisance/injured-animal complaints were handled. A boat with zebra mussels tried to enter Green Lake when a local watercraft inspector called and reported it to Benkofske. He and CO Krauel also found a pair of unattended lines at the end of the dock, one of which was illegally baited with a large bluegill.

Aviation Section

Standby NR Pilot Jessica Holmes (Grand Rapids) reports completing a Leech Lake watercraft creel survey. She also updated maintenance logs and worked on some online training tasks.

NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) continued with helicopter spraying of invasive hybrid cattails on state wildlife management areas. The crews are working in the central part of the state, and should complete the project earlier than planned – before Labor Day. He also participated in the tall ships event in Duluth. Flying with TFO Speldrich, they provided observation air support to the six law enforcement agencies working on the water below as ships sailed into the harbor area. Large crowds were in attendance, and many boaters came to enjoy the many different sailing vessels making their way into port.

NR Pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) flew sketch mapping for forest assessment and two wolf telemetry missions. Heineman also gave two low level waver check rides to DNR pilots, which is an annual requirement.

Water Resource Enforcement Officers

WREO Joseph Stattelman (NW) spent the week attending training at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent on a background for the current hiring process.

WREO Robert Haberman (North Central) spent the week training at the Academy and attending training. Time was spent taking calls and making AIS enforcement plans.

WREO Leah Weyandt (Central) spent time training at Camp Ripley. A new public water violation was found on Lake Minnetonka over two properties. Background investigation interviews continued throughout the week.

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Joe Albert, Communications coordinator | Division of Enforcement

[Gunner55]

I've seen 2 reports of nusiance bears in the last week around the lake.