DNR Report: March 9

Talk about it

Lake County

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) reports that winter has finally come to the North Shore area. Two winter storms and two days of lake effect snow over the past week dumped snow totaling up to 30 inches in some areas. Snowmobilers from near and far flocked to the North Shore Trail to ride. The trails did not hold up to the large numbers of machines on Saturday or Sunday, and became brutally rough. Many riders had either unregistered snowmobiles or had neglected to affix the current registration stickers to their machines.

Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) reports that winter finally arrived and so did many of the snowmobilers. He patrolled the North Shore State Trail as well as local snowmobile trails around Finland and Silver Bay. Several state trail permit violations were observed and enforcement action was taken. Assisted a Lake County Deputy with a report of a mangy wolf. Took a call on fishing license requirements.

North Shore

Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) keeps running into people that remember fishing poles, bait, tackle, food, beverage, auger, ice scoopers, snow shoes, skis, ice tent, heater, helmet, facemask, gloves, and good boots but they forget to bring the fishing license along. He did some foot patrols in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and found that the slush is starting to get deeper as a recent snowfall may have been positive for the snowmobilers, but adds a little more challenge for the angler. Good waterproof boots are in order in some areas. Took a phone call asking who plowed a parking lot 90 miles away from his station because someone got their Cadillac Escalade stuck. He couldn’t answer the question. Enforcement action was taken for a lynx zone trap violation.

Mary Manning (Hovland) checked area anglers and ice houses still on the lakes; slush was the word for the weekend. One family of anglers reported they had 10 beautiful fish sitting in front of their lake cabin earlier in the day, but when they returned from trying to fill their limit they discovered all the fish missing and a very satisfied looking eagle nearby. The officer also worked a BWCAW detail and patrolled snowmobile trails.

Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) monitored anglers and snowmobilers this past week. The fresh snow brought a lot of snowmobilers to the trails. The officer reminds snowmobilers that the trails are not race tracks and to slow down around the corners. Wahlstrom also worked a detail with two Superior National Forest LEO’s.

South

Kipp Duncan (Duluth) assisted an out of state Game Warden on locating a Minnesota resident for questioning. A meeting was attended reference the Duluth city archery deer hunt. Spent the rest of the week working snowmobile and winter fishing enforcement.

Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports snowmobiles were out in numbers around the area due to the recent snowfalls. Many people however forgot to make sure their registration and trail pass were valid. A meeting was attended at City Hall to discuss the city’s archery deer hunt. A case involving commercial enforcement issues was follow up with. Time was also spent completing some required online training.

Lake Superior

Marine Unit

Keith Olson (Unit Leader-Lake Superior Marine Unit) spent time checking shore fishermen along the North Shore. The French River has been busy during the course of the week. The recent large snowfall has the snowmobilers out in full strength. The roadways and trails were very busy.

Frog counters wanted

Volunteers are sought by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to participate in its ongoing Minnesota Frog and Toad Calling Survey. The survey is part of the nationwide North American Amphibian Monitoring Program.

New volunteers receive a kit that includes a CD of calls by Minnesota’s frog and toad species, a poster of Minnesota’s frogs and toads, a map of a predefined route in an area of their choice. Route availability and past survey results are on the DNR website. A vehicle is required to travel between stops.

Participants will conduct nighttime “listening surveys” on three evenings per year between April and July. These 10-stop routes are run after dark, in good weather and in each of the following time periods to capture seasonal variation in calling frog species: April 15-30, May 20 to June 5 and June 25 to July 10.

Anyone interested should choose a route and then contact Heidi Cyr, survey volunteer coordinator, at (651) 259-5107 or heidi.cyr@state.mn.us.

Tags: outdoors, dnr