DNR Report: Aug. 17

Talk about it

Conservation Officer John Velsvaag (Ely) checked boaters and anglers this past week. Fishing was slow overall. Velsvaag handled several off-highway motorcycle complaints and followed up on a litter complaint. Velsvaag also took a couple of nuisance animal complaints.

Conservation Officer Marty Stage (Ely) worked in the BWCAW most of the week on some boating and fishing enforcement. Fishing was slow, but the weather was fantastic. A common theme with the unregistered canoes is that the users are “just borrowing [the canoe].” The operators are astonished to learn that they can get a ticket for an unregistered canoe that doesn’t belong to them.

Conservation Officer Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reported problem bear calls are becoming more and more frequent as the summer goes on. Garbage left out and poor camping practices contribute to the problem. Campers and residents are advised to put garbage away and keep campsites clean.

Conservation Officer Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted Marine Unit officers with an overlimit case at the Grand Marais Rec Park. She also assisted U.S. Customs with a couple fish over limit cases in which fish were being brought over the border form Canada. The officer patrolled inland and BWCA lakes and found very good compliance and clean campsites. An ATV operator was found driving on the paved shoulder of Highway 61. He admitted he did not know the rules for operation or whether the machine was registered since he was borrowing the machine to visit a friend. Appropriate paperwork was issued.

Conservation Officer Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) patrolled in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and checked anglers. He also monitored for boat and water safety. The bite is picking up for walleyes and smallmouth. Campsites were full in the BWCAW. Along the officer’s route, people were happy with the fishing. The officer responded to nuisance wolf calls and to a cougar sighting.

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