DNR report: July 9

Talk about it

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

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) handled a car-killed calf moose early in the week. Biological samples were collected from the animal and the meat salvaged. Bear complaints continue to come in as some raspberries are starting to ripen. A good berry crop should lessen the human-bear issue. The Independence Day weekend brought hot and windy weather, keeping some boaters and anglers at bay. Activity was up in area campgrounds.

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Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports boat and water safety was the primary enforcement emphasis over this past holiday weekend. A work detail that included a specially equipped aircraft assisted officers in locating watercraft that were operating at night without required navigational lights. Several citations were issued for insufficient life jackets, no current registration, fail to use navigational light, PWC after hours. Many violations included illegal or unsafe activity by juveniles using ATVs.

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Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked anglers and boat and water safety equipment. He did a remote canoe patrol.

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Marty Stage (Ely) concentrated on some ATV and fishing issues throughout the week. Fishing was slow. The big Fourth weekend was relatively quiet and the weather was good. Many fishermen are still not bringing their fishing licenses with them, which causes plenty of extra effort and work for the officers. Increased enforcement may have to happen if the trend continues. Raspberries and blueberries are ripe.

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Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) reports that fishing continues to pick up on Lake Superior. Spent time enforcing invasive species laws at public accesses. Conducted boat and water safety on Lake Superior and inland lakes. Assisted Lake and Cook counties with an accident and spent time working ATVs during the holiday weekend. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations and insufficient number of PFDs.

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Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled inland lakes and Boundary Waters lakes. Manning also checked anglers and commercial fishing nets on Lake Superior. Spoke with boaters and anglers about invasive species such as VHS, checked a couple possible illegal fires, and answered questions about bird rehabilitation.

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Keith Olson (Marine Unit) worked Lake Superior with Coast Guard crews. Anglers are catching lake trout, chinook and coho.

Tags: two harbors, dnr report, outdoors, hunting, fishing