MN DNR Weekly Report for July 25, 2016

District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (Int’l Falls) reports fishing and boating activities on Rainy Lake continue to make up most of the workload.  Most of the severe weather missed the borderland area; however areas south and east were not so fortunate.  Enforcement action taken over the week included ATV violations, no angling license in possession, over limits, and illegal length walleye.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports excessive heat found little angling activity; those anglers encountered report poor fishing.  Area forest roads continue to be monitored as well as public access sites. Equipment work is on-going. Beaver problems continue.

CO John Velsvaag (Cook) checked anglers and boaters this past week.  CO Velsvaag also helped out after the storm damage and took several calls related to the storm.  CO Velsvaag took several boating questions and received a call about vegetation removal.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) reports while off-duty the officer observed an individual who appeared to be under the influence of narcotics; the suspect got in a vehicle and started to drive.  The officer followed till a Breitung Police Department officer could stop the vehicle.  The officer assisted in the stop, and it led to the suspect’s arrest for DUI (controlled substance), warrant, and felony controlled substance.  The officer also responded to a call of an eagle with a broken wing.  The eagle was transported to Wildwoods Rehabilitation Center, but it was too far gone to survive.

 CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, ATV’s, and the state park during the week.  A trespass complaint along with wildlife complaints was also handled.  Enforcement action was taken on angling without a license and a few ATV violations.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke at an advanced hunter education class at the Laurentian Environmental Learning Center and spent time on follow up investigation on an ATV fleeing case. Angling activity on area lakes has slowed and more attention has shifted to recreational traffic.

Ray - vacant

International Falls #2 - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) instructed at the CO Academy on small and big game laws and night hunting.  A bad storm brought many trees down, and portages in the BWCA will likely take a while to get cleared.  Roadkill deer complaints were handled.  Enforcement action was taken for an unregistered canoe.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers, boaters and ATV riders. Fishing has slowed on inland lakes. The officer handled badger and bear complaints in the area. Enforcement action was taken for boating, angling and ATV violations.

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports extreme thunderstorms again hit the Ely area over the week causing several injuries and fatalities in the BWCAW. Electricity is still out in some of the outlying areas nearly five days after the storm. Thanks to the efforts of the Morse Fall Lake fire department, St. Louis County rescue squad, the USFS, and Canadian Quetico Park staff, rescuers were able to evacuate the victims quickly in spite the terrible blow down conditions.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) assisted with storm damage patrols in the area after severe weather downed several power lines and trees. Fishing success was slow but water recreation was high with folks trying to cool off at area lakes as temperatures soared into the upper eighties. Area ATV trails were patrolled and enforcement action was taken for licensing violations and illegally operating in closed areas.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) had a busy bear week, three folks reported bears breaking into cabins and homes to look for food; one of these bears had to be shot after making frequent consecutive nightly attempts to get inside.  The bear was seized and gifted to a family for food.  The officer also helped teach at the DNR Academy and checked anglers and boaters.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked remote lakes and the BWCAW this week.  Time was also spent checking anglers and boating activity near the shore.  CO Schottenbauer also dealt with a beaver problem area.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area CO Randy Patten (Northome) patrolled area ATV trails, checked anglers and boaters, enforced AIS regulations, attended a meeting in Grand Rapids, and worked ongoing cases.  Also handled calls on nuisance bears and harassing loons.  Enforcement action taken for using extra lines.

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked ATV, sport fishing, boating, AIS, and handled miscellaneous nuisance animal calls. He patrolled state park areas, state forests, and public water accesses.  Violations included fail to drain water related equipment, transporting aquatic macrophytes,  overlimit, angle with extra lines, illegal operation by a juvenile, and ATV on the roadway.  He also assisted the county on a man track. 

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) taught at the Academy, checked anglers, attended a district meeting, and responded to K9 assist calls from other law enforcement agencies. Enforcement action was taken for license issues, DANCO violation, and probation violation.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked anglers over the past week with fewer anglers out during the extreme temperatures.  Some had some luck and were even able to bring enough fish back home for the table.  CO Sutherland took action for angling without a license and operating an unregistered ATV.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATV’s, state parks and campgrounds.  He also attended a district meeting and checked a commercial facility during the week.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Hill City) – reports spending a majority of the week assisting Academy 17 with emergency vehicle operation and game week.  CO’s Fairbanks, Hansen, and Van Asch assisted Itasca County Sheriff’s office with an individual that fled on foot.  Time was also spent handling nuisance animal complaints as well.

District 8 - Duluth area CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) reports returning phone calls, following up on ongoing issues, and working fishing enforcement on local lakes and streams. 

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted several agencies in the area with a search for a suspect that fled after being involved in a shooting. He was taken into custody after several hours of searching. Enforcement contacts were made with several ATV riders after they were found operating in the Nemadji Forest. The forest is closed due to storm damage. People are encouraged to check the DNR website or the local DNR trails office to see if the areas they are planning on riding in are open. One wolf depredation complaint was followed up on where an 1100 pound cow was killed on an area farm. A K9 demo and talk was given to the new officers at the DNR academy at Camp Ripley.

Duluth – vacant.

Lake Superior Marine Unit CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked fishing and boating enforcement on Lake Superior.  Several questions from the public were answered throughout the week.  Inland enforcement included public access checks for AIS concerns and ATV work at past complaint locations.  Officer Olson also assisted local law enforcement with various issues that were a result of a widespread storm that hit the Duluth area.  

Lake Superior Unit - vacant.