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FeedMInnesota Cuffs & Collars - April 27th, 2012
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) presented law and ethics information at the Greenbush firearm safety class. A calf depredation was investigated near Lancaster that turned out to be caused by coyotes. Several arson fires were investigated, and sturgeon anglers were checked on the Rainy River.
CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) attended annual training at Camp Ripley and closed out a wildfire investigation.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) assisted a local sheriff’s office with security at the scene of a house fire. Annual training was attended at Camp Ripley, and a possible gray wolf depredation incident was investigated.
CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) attended annual training at Camp Ripley and monitored fish run activity. Numerous AIS questions were answered.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked anglers, ATVers, and boaters. Calls for service included wolf depredation, burning/fires, otters caught by beaver trappers, and a dead banded bird that turned out to be a racing pigeon from St. Louis.
CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) checked anglers, spoke to boaters at accesses about invasive species laws, and distributed AIS boat decals.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports a cease and desist order was issued in a public waters alteration case in which a backhoe operator was working in the water without a permit.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) assisted with minnow dealer training at Camp Ripley.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted with use of force training at Camp Ripley. Three people were caught spearing walleyes at night. The suspects said they thought it was legal but could not explain why they drove into the stream with the vehicle lights off.
Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson (Northwest Region) spoke to the Leif Lake Association about aquatic invasive species and boating laws. A grass fire was investigated, and public waters alteration sites were inspected.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) attended division training at Camp Ripley and participated in a work crew for the South Dakota border fishing opener.
CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) reports enforcement activity included checking fishermen and boaters. A call was handled regarding an injured deer.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. Beaver and fishing complaints were received and investigated.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) focused enforcement efforts on invasive species laws, anglers, and commercial minnow enforcement. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested assistance regarding a complaint of commercial minnow trapping on a federal waterfowl production area. After a multi-day surveillance operation, one person was contacted about the operation, and his equipment was seized. A complaint also was received about a drainage tile company digging on a wildlife management area. They will work with DNR Wildlife to fix the damage.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) continued working on an active illegal trapping case. He assisted a New Orleans-bound kayaker at the headwaters of the Mississippi River and took care of some equipment maintenance.
CO Larry Francis (Remer) worked with other states on cases involving Minnesota residents who violated laws within other jurisdictions. Francis also addressed a report about a road-killed bald eagle.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring spring trapping, as well as ATV and angling activity. CO Broughten investigated a wetland violation that resulted in the property owner being served with a restoration order and the contractor being issued a citation. CO Broughten responded to an incident in which people were shooting beavers from a pontoon with a high-powered rifle. A .30-06 rifle and a spotlight were seized, and charges are being reviewed.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked turkey season opener. He also handled complaints involving road hunters and trespassing.
CO Shane Siltala (Water Resource Enforcement officer) attended a special invasive species meeting with staff from the DNR Division of Ecological and Water Resources to discuss AIS current events. He also assisted the State Patrol and local sheriff’s department with a two-vehicle crash.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports attending training at Camp Ripley and patrolling for illegal ATV-riding activity. Numerous phone calls continue about when and if a gray wolf season will occur.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) worked on some public waters issues and monitored some wetland project work. Assistance was given to Officer Frericks on a trapping case. Trappers should remember to call in any and all incidentally caught animals that are out of season. Complaints about tribal netting continue to be received.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) took a report about a timber wolf that was caught in a snare. Upon arrival, CO Frericks could see that the snare had cut into the wolf’s leg down to the bone, indicating that the animal had been there for some time. CO Frericks removed the snare from the timber wolf with assistance from members of the State Patrol and Hibbing Police Department. Once the wolf was removed, the snare was examined and found to be untagged. The wolf was checked several hours later and had left the area.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) received a complaint about dogs chasing deer. The owner was located and told the CO he received a citation a few days ago from the sheriff’s office for allowing his dogs to harass the neighbor’s domestic animals.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) assisted DNR Forestry with a timber theft investigation. He also found where someone was cutting live cedar trees on federal lands. An interview was done regarding the theft of beaver traps.
CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) reports that angling activity picked up along the North Shore rivers and streams. He issued a summons to an ATV driver who was travelling on the roadway in Two Harbors.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) continues to work area rivers and monitor fish run activities. CO Thomasen also investigated a report of wolf depredation in which the property owner lost five goats.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, worked ATV traffic, investigated a wetlands complaint, and instructed at the CO academy. Enforcement contacts were made for illegal ATV operation on a roadway and for angling license violations.
CO Randy Patten (Northome) spent the week dealing with timber wolf issues and calls about eagles.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) assisted with training at Camp Ripley. He handled several wildlife complaints, including a call about wolf depredation.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) worked streams and rivers for the spring fish run. ATV complaints were investigated, and wolf complaints continue.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to spend the majority of the week working North Shore rivers for the steelhead run. Trapping enforcement also was worked during the week. Officer Duncan spent several nights working illegal netting with neighboring officers.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports complaints about people dumping trash continue to be received. An area MDHA banquet was attended. Lots of questions are being fielded about issues happening at the legislative level regarding a possible early fishing opener and wolf-hunting season.
CO Scott Staples and K-9 Schody (Carlton) worked spring fish run and other fishing activity in the area. Complaints about using seines in the rivers along the shore and taking fish with nets were worked.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (NE) attended training on commercial minnow harvesting and transporting in the state. Officer Scott attended lake service provider training in Ely where business and resort owners, and others, were present for the required training.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) spent the week checking river anglers and smelters. He responded to complaints about illegal-length seines, seining in rivers, and snagging.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) attended in-service training at Camp Ripley. Anglers were checked along Lake Superior tributaries. Maintenance was performed on a new patrol watercraft. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) checked crappie anglers and distributed many of the required aquatic invasive species stickers to be put on all watercraft.
CO Cary Shoutz (Crosslake) responded to a TIP call about a potential overlimit of crappies and continues to investigate the case.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) patrolled for angling activity and assisted with in-service training at Camp Ripley. Anglers and boaters were reminded about the aquatic invasive species decal now required by law to be affixed to all watercraft. Officer Guida assisted at a public relations function in Baxter and also fielded calls regarding a bald eagle caught in angling line.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports activity included attending training at Camp Ripley, monitoring panfish bites and walleye spawning activity, taking in incidentally caught otters, and giving ride-along job experience opportunities to law enforcement students.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) spent time at public landings monitoring for invasive species and water transport compliance. A large percentage of boaters seems to have forgotten about the legal requirements of draining all water from boat livewells and minnow buckets before leaving public waters. Enforcement action was taken for several violations. Other activities included attending annual training, providing a ride-along for a college student, and assisting local law enforcement on a missing person search.
CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) continued to work on invasive species enforcement issues this week. He explained the new invasive species laws and provided some much-needed education.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) monitored trapping activity in the area and investigated unattended traps. Croatt also investigated a littering complaint.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) received reports about dogs chasing deer, wetland excavations, and burying solid waste. She followed up on trapping and bear-hunting investigations. She also assisted with wolf depredation trapping.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley during the week. He finished up the week following up with a wolf depredation complaint in the Hinckley station and checked a couple littering complaints that were unfounded. CO Wynn took numerous complaints regarding bears destroying bird feeders. He also had many inquiries regarding the Minnesota fishing opener. Wetter weather the past few days has helped with fire danger. Keep in mind, burning restrictions are still in place. You can still have campfires, and certain variance permits are being issued.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent time visiting beef farms and a dairy farm in response to complaints about gray wolves harassing cattle and killing newborn calves. Most of the wolf depredation investigations showed that the livestock losses were due to gray wolf attacks. Assistance also was provided to landowners having problems with nuisance bears.
CO Greg Verkuilen (Garrison) checked more boaters. Most boaters were aware of the new AIS emblem requirement, but some were having problems obtaining them until that point.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) saw three whooping cranes migrating through the area. CO Kuske also assisted with instruction at the CO academy. He investigated a trap theft complaint and several nuisance animal complaints.
CO Robert Haberman (Little Falls) checked anglers on local lakes and rivers. CO Haberman also worked ATV enforcement on area trails.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) taught the law portion of firearm safety in Staples. A game farm inspection was conducted. Investigation continued on a wildfire case.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) checked anglers and OHM operators during the week. One OHM operator was stopped as he rode in the ditch along Hwy 10; the operator didn’t have a current driver’s license, current registration, and was operating an OHM within the public roadway. When Officer Martin asked the local CO if he knew the subject, the local CO explained that he recently had spoken with the suspect about OHM rules.
CO Keith Bertram (Sauk Centre) spent the week checking anglers, boaters, and turkey hunters.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) worked anglers, turkey hunters, invasive species enforcement, and wetland impact issues. Thesing also met with the Stearns County LGU on two wetland violations.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) checked anglers and ATV complaint areas. Violations were found for no registration and operating an ATV in a closed area.
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) investigated carcass dumping, seized accidental furs, talked at firearms safety classes, and helped with training for the academy at Camp Ripley.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked an ATV detail in the closed areas of Aitkin and Kanabec counties. Enforcement action was taken on a number of violations. He finished up on a big-game investigation with summonses and written warnings issued. Sladek also captured a trumpeter swan on the Mississippi River and had it taken to a rehabilitation center.
CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) checked anglers, boaters, and turkey hunters. Animal complaints were handled, and the law portion of a firearm safety class was taught in Bradford. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display navigational lights after sunset and license violations.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Steve Walter (Waconia) attended training at Camp Ripley. Several calls were returned regarding angling regulations and nuisance animals.
CO Tony Salzer (Osseo) investigated the possession of a roadkill otter. The investigation is ongoing.
CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) testified in court for a fishing case from last summer. She also worked at a DNR booth at the Minnesota Bass Expo in Blaine.
CO Thor Nelson (Bloomington) received calls concerning taking bass during the closed season and fishing with extra lines. He also gave in-service firearms instruction at Camp Ripley.
CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) spent most of the week at a boating enforcement training school. Calls pertaining to docks, nuisance animals, and public use areas were received.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) worked anglers, boaters, and invasive species enforcement in the metro area. He also attended the Asian Outdoors Heritage banquet in Brooklyn Park.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) patrolled Dakota and Anoka counties for angling activity. Enforcement action was taken for several overlimits of crappies, angling without a license, and angling with extra lines.
CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) investigated a wetland complaint in Linwood. CO Muyres also checked anglers on area lakes.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) handled a call regarding an individual killing two turkeys with one shot.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) monitored fishing, ATV, and turkey-hunting activity. Assistance was given to the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office with monitoring a tornado and assisting at the location of a touchdown. One residence sustained severe damage, with buildings and power lines down.
CO Neil Henriksen (Benson) reports local authorities were assisted with severe weather spotting and the recovery of a drowning victim from Big Stone Lake.
CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports the South Dakota border opener was slow, with high winds and low temperatures. Enforcement action was taken for no license and several AIS decal violations.
CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) issued numerous out-of-state minnow transport permits throughout the week. Complaints about taking walleyes out of season continue to be investigated.
CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week checking ATVers and anglers. Rifle instruction was given at in-service sessions, as was a retiree handgun qualification.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) reports time was spent checking numerous ATV and off-highway motorcycle operators, turkey hunters, and a large numbers of shore fishermen.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) attended an invasive species meeting in Spirit Lake, Iowa with New Ulm and Windom area fisheries personnel. He also attended the spring season-setting furbearer committee meeting in Brainerd. Gruhlke also assisted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department by notifying campers staying at or near the Loon Lake county campgrounds of a tornado warning for the area.
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) spent time monitoring spring fishing activity and addressed limit violations in addition to anglers targeting species that are not in season. He continues to distribute AIS stickers and check for compliance with AIS rules and regulations.
CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent the week checking fishermen and boaters. Lots of phone calls are being received regarding AIS enforcement. Enforcement action was taken on two people who were shooting archery equipment into the water of a creek that was full of northern pike.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) spent time checking anglers. CO Howe also armored division pistols at Camp Ripley, issued a WCA cease and desist order, responded to a TIP complaint, and worked some turkey-hunting activity.
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) spent the week checking anglers, boaters, and ATV activity.Officer Ihnen also spent three days in Des Moines, Iowa where he attended specialized instructor training to teach BWI enforcement to other officers in Minnesota.
CO Bob Geving (Mankato) attended in-service training at Camp Ripley. He investigated a wetland complaint and issued a cease and desist order, along with a citation for failing to file a contractor liability form.
CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) reports teaching a commercial minnow class to conservation officers.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Scott Fritz (La Crescent) dealt with mushroom and turkey hunter trespassers, and investigated a complaint about a camper in Beaver Valley State Park marking trees at a campsite.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) talked to a person who was driving around, looking for firewood, and threw a beer can onto the road. The subject was arrested for open bottle and OWI in addition to the litter.
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports checking into wetland and public water complaints. CO Boyum also attended yearly training at Camp Ripley. A youth turkey hunt was held at Chester Woods Park in Olmsted County, and seven of 12 kids were able to tag a turkey.
CO Phil George (Rochester) checked anglers and ATV operators. He took a complaint about a large amount of litter along a road ditch.
