DNR report: May 14

Talk about it

Reports filed Sunday from conservation officers for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Marty Stage (Ely) worked on various litter cases and dealt with some illegal all-terrain-vehicle riding and early fishing issues. Officer investigated an incident where a group of at least five wolves came into a remote yard and killed eight chickens. One chicken was killed on the deck and when the owner came out to yell at the wolf, there was another wolf in the wood shed. They had just returned from work and had just let the chickens out to do some scratching. They were thankful they had not let their elderly dog outside yet as that’s their normal routine. The wolves had tunnel vision and showed little to no fear of the human scent, vehicles in the yard or the yelling human. Be very watchful of your pets when you let them outside.

Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) taught the law portion of the ATV Safety class in Silver Bay and helped out with the riding course. The officer helped to instruct the field shoot of gun safety in Grand Marais. Officer Wahlstrom checked on a snagging complaint along a North Shore river. The officer reminds anglers to have the proper number of portable flotation devices in their watercraft for the fishing season.

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) investigated two more illegal fires last week. While fire danger has lessened with the recent rain and snow, burning restrictions still remain in place. Equipment was made ready for the upcoming fishing opener.

Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked anglers along the North Shore. The recent snowfall and melting has done little to bring the river levels up at all. Inland brook trout anglers were also checked. Nuisance bear complaints are starting to come in for the Duluth area. Final watercraft maintenance items tended to. Youthful ATV operation complaint followed up on. Catches of coho salmon observed on Lake Superior.

Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters on the St. Louis River and Lake Superior. An individual was arrested on a warrant after found fishing in a posted closed spawning area.

Randy Hanzal (Duluth) worked on a wetland violation in progress and issued a cease and desist order. On a separate incident a public waters violation was also stopped in progress. Several calls of dogs chasing deer were received. Numerous bear complaints have been fielded as bears scrounge for food sources during this difficult time of year. A wolf predation call was addressed and federal authorities were called in to investigate. Several ATV violations were also encountered.

Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) spent the week finishing reports from wildfire investigations. He also responded to a fire in Hermantown where a wrecker was pulling a vehicle without tires down the road sending sparks into the ditch which started several fires. A few stream anglers were checked; one group was trying to use a net to retrieve a fish that got off a stringer. They soon learned this was not a wise idea. ATV activity was monitored and assistance provided to an area officer.

Tags: two harbors, dnr report, outdoors