DNR report: July 2

Talk about it

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

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) investigated an abandoned camper trailer at one of the area state forest campgrounds. Judging by the age and disrepair of the mouse-infested camper, someone likely used the campground as a dumping area to get rid of the trailer. Received a report of a bald eagle in distress in Lake Superior near the Two Harbors city campground. By the time the officer arrived, the eagle had made it to shore, dried itself and had taken flight. Witnesses led to theory that the eagle possibly caught a fish too heavy to lift and became mired in the water. The eagle was lucky to escape drowning. Worked area lakes for angling and boating activity. Most anglers were found to have a few small walleyes and some panfish, but no limits were observed. Enforcement action was taken for unregistered watercraft, and angling license not in possession.

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Marty Stage (Ely) worked ATV, boat safety, and fishermen. The fishing has been slow, but there are ripe blueberries already. There was a call about a fisher caught in a snare. The poor thing was the victim of some light wire (litter) left on a power line (likely after some work that was done last year), that was about 20 feet long. The fisher had apparently run through the wire and gotten tangled. He then began to struggle and spin and ended up hanging over a dead tree with his hind quarters off the ground till he died. The lesson to be learned from this freak and gruesome wildlife accident was that it was totally preventable if someone had just disposed of their garbage responsibly.

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John Velsvaag (Ely) checked anglers and boaters this past week and fishing success was slow. Received several complaints on ATVs in and around Ely. Attended an appreciation dinner for area DNR safety instructors.

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Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused enforcement efforts this week on anglers. Time was spent on Lake Superior and inland lakes. The water is warming up fast and the salmon are starting to hit up the shore on Superior. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.

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Mary Manning (Hovland) worked lakes and public accesses checking anglers and boaters. Manning followed up on a public waters case, investigated an incident a state park, and attended a meeting on DNR fine schedules. Also responded to customs to assist with a couple who attempted to sneak 34 extra walleyes in from Ontario. The couple left with some paperwork instead of their fish. Ironically, they had been fishing on conservation licenses.

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Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports that several people found themselves attempting to explain away violations of current aquatic plant management laws when they were caught removing the important vegetation from their shore land. Most lake shore projects and weed removal will require some type of permit. Refer to the DNR Web site or local authorities before beginning. ATV enforcement is being increased in the area and numerous violations are being encountered. A bear was salvaged after being hit by a vehicle.

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Kipp Duncan (Duluth) checking fishing and boating enforcement on area lakes and accesses. Several calls were returned. Also worked some ATV areas during the week.

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Keith Olson (Marine Unit) worked Lake Superior and the Duluth Harbor. The rainy week kept many anglers dodging thunderheads and rain. Boat maintenance items preformed. Bear complaints seem to be getting more frequent over the past week. Wolf concerns from area cattle owners fielded.

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Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) spent time training with the Coast Guard on emergency drills. He checked boaters, anglers, and invasive species regulations. Time was also spent checking for intoxicated boaters as part of the nationwide initiative Operation Dry Water.

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Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior. Compliance and angler awareness of invasive species rules has been improving. Wet and windy weather kept anglers in more sheltered areas for much of the week. Equipment maintenance issues were handled and ATV complaints were checked.

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Pilot Al Buchert (Grand Rapids) continued telemetry flights for Wildlife Research and boat counts for fisheries.

Tags: two harbors, outdoors, dnr report