DNR report: June 4

Talk about it

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

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) worked on a case with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as participated in a conference call with an administrative law judge regarding a dog taking down a deer. Some other cases were cleaned up as well, with citations being mailed to individuals. Lakes in vacant neighboring stations were worked.

One couple, which had purchased a resident combination angling license, forgot to rehearse their story completely. The female half stated they had been married one year, while the male half stated they had been married for eight years. Enforcement action followed after it was determined that they were not married at all.

On Memorial Day, one angler was issued a warning for not having his angling license in possession. Later checked the angler’s license status via computer and found that the license was purchased a couple hours after he had been issued the warning.

Other enforcement contacts were made for angling without a license, angling license not in possession and no throwable Pfd on board watercraft.

*****

John Velsvaag (Ely) checked anglers and boaters this past week. He also took a couple of timber wolf complaints. He assisted in a BWCA work detail.

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Marty Stage (Ely) worked fishermen and ATVs in the area. A work detail was conducted in the BWCAW at Prairie Portage. Multiple violations were encountered and citations issued for over limits and illegal transportation of fish. Fishing seemed to be slow during the first part of the holiday weekend, but picked up as the weather front came into the area. Compliance for Pfds and boat registrations has been excellent.

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Officer Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) received several calls of bears being bears. One bear entered a cabin and helped himself to some donuts left inside an open screen on a table. People are finding that removing bird seed and feeders after the fact is not a good tactic to keep bears away. The DNR no longer traps and removes bears. They will just become a problem somewhere else. So do your part remove the attractant before they become a problem.

*****

Officer Tom Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked anglers in the BWCA. Lake trout were getting caught. The weather was nice and campers were enjoying themselves. Lake Superior was also worked for boating safety and anglers were checked. Enforcement action was taken for no Pfd’s, extra lines and no angling license.

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Officer Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to work public accesses for enforcement and education of invasive species. Several calls of baby deer have been received. Please leave baby deer alone, the mother deer will return. Fishing and boating enforcement continued during the week.

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Officer Randy Hanzal (Duluth) participated in a plain clothes detail involving transportation of infested waters. Although most anglers know the risks of failing to drain all water from their boats as many failed to remove the bulge plug before leaving the access. All boat owners who transported the potentially harmful water were issued citations. The inability to accurately count put two anglers in trouble for an over limit of walleyes over the weekend. Although fire restrictions have been lifted, any fire bigger than three feet in diameter require a permit.

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Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott spent time checking anglers and boaters on the St. Louis River, and inland lakes talking to boaters and anglers on invasive species issues in the area. Anglers are reminded that they must remove the drain plug from their boat when they leave waters that are designated as infested. Over the holiday weekend, officers worked various accesses on the St. Louis River watching boaters and anglers leaving these public accesses without draining water from their boats or removing the drain plug.

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Officer Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior. A detail was worked at the portage to Basswood Lake with many fish found in the bag. Salmon are starting to show up along the Minnesota shore of Lake Superior. Invasives work continued with citations being issued for transporting infested water in livewells and bilges.

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Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) finished a fire investigation. He checked anglers and boaters on area lakes, rivers, and Lake Superior. . An enforcement detail on invasive species regulations was completed with enforcement action taken for failing to remove a drain plug before leaving infested waters. Enforcement action was taken for keeping undersize trout on the Lester River. Assistance was provided to the sheriff’s department in a search for an armed suspect.

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Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked boaters and anglers on Lake Superior and the St. Louis River. Catches of Coho and Chinook salmon are still being observed, along with Lake Trout. McQuade safe harbor access was worked for invasive species enforcement.

Tags: two harbors, outdoors, dnr report