DNR Report: March 2

Talk about it

Reports filed Sundays by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers.

Lake County

Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) checked anglers and snowmobilers. Sled activity was up with the recent snow. Responded to a complaint of illegal burning in Finland. Enforcement action was taken for burning prohibited material and leaving a fire unattended. Picked up a vehicle killed wolf and turned it over to DNR Wildlife staff.

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) checked area lakes and attended to some equipment related issues. A short talk was given at a steelhead fishing clinic put on for young anglers. The youth were working in the classroom, learning casting and knot tying, and will eventually visit an area river to test what they have learned. Assisted District 8 officers at the annual Fish Lake Vintage Snowmobile Run. Enforcement action was taken for several violations.

North Shore

Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a substantial snowfall and lots of winter left in the Arrowhead. The snowmobile trails were busy. People that wander into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are finding some pretty good fishing in lakes that see less pressure. Did a few day trips into the BWCAW and found people fishing and some just out for the winter camping. Contacts were made with snowmobilers not making complete stops at road crossings and no trail stickers affixed to snowmobile. Carrying them in the pocket doesn’t cut it. Assisted with a couple of snowmobile breakdowns and a couple who slid their vehicle into the ditch during a snowstorm. Some anglers forgot their licenses at home, but at least they remembered the bait.

Mary Manning (Hovland) handled equipment and uniform issues. Answered phone calls on snowmobile use and homeowner rights regarding predator attacks on livestock. Checked snowmobile trails and area lakes.

North

John Velsvaag (Ely) completed departmental training this past week. Checked anglers and snowmobilers in the Ely area. Took several snowmobiling complaints and worked in the BWCAW.

Marty Stage (Ely) worked ice fishermen and attended meetings. Worked on old netting, trapping cases. A young loon had been fitted with a radio transmitter and satellite beacon in the summer, but had gotten sick and died at ice up. An eagle had eaten the loon and scattered the transmitters. The leg bands were recovered, but the satellite beacon had not been. It had not been transmitting after the loon’s demise, but began to do so for no known reason in January. The researchers had sent the tracking equipment up from Wisconsin and an attempt was made to recover the transmitter, but the battery had finally died and it was not found.

South

Randy Hanzal (Duluth) the report of a dog getting entangled in a snare lead to the uncovering of several other illegally set snares within the city limits. A detail involving several officers worked in cooperation with a large local vintage snowmobile event. The event was again very successful with fun being had by all and no major enforcement actions were reported.

Tags: two harbors, outdoors, moose, bwcaw