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FeedMInnesota Cuffs & Collars - July 27th, 2012
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) investigated two wolf depredation complaints in the Greenbush area. One calf was killed at one location, and many young turkeys were killed at the other. Enforcement action was taken on two PWCers for operating after hours.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) worked an aquatic invasive species road checkpoint south of Lake of the Woods. Multiple watercraft were checked, with some individuals transporting their watercraft with drain plugs still in place and transporting water as a result.
CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) investigated a wolf depredation and monitored ATV activity.
CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and ATV activity throughout the week. CO Huener, CO Birchem, and CO Gorecki worked a boat and water detail at the Northwest Angle during the weekend.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked anglers, boaters, leech trappers, and ATVers. CO Malinowski participated in a radio talk show and did a security escort for Minnesota Pollution Control Agency crew collecting fish and water samples for analysis.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) checked boats at area accesses for AIS law compliance. Anglers and ATVers also were checked.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) and COC Mitch Lawler patrolled area lakes checking PWCers, anglers, and boaters. Weedroller sites were inspected for compliance with permit conditions. A shoreline alteration complaint was investigated, and the officers assisted with the faucet snail investigation.
CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) assisted with the faucet snail investigation and monitored AIS law compliance. COC Lawler started field training with CO Stattelman.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) worked on BWI and angling violation reports.
Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson investigated a complaint regarding a faucet snail infestation. Several ponds or small unnamed lakes were identified as having the snails.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) spoke about laws and ethics for the summer firearm safety class in Fergus Falls. Officer Richards also spent time checking anglers, boaters, and AIS compliance. Due to complaints regarding tuber behavior on the river, CO Richards and CO Paul Nelson spent time at an access enforcing regulations such as litter and underage drinking.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked AIS enforcement as well as fishing and boating enforcement. Officer Plautz and COC Mueller found violations regarding insufficient life jackets, fishing without a license, and ATV violations. Officer Plautz continues to receive complaints about nuisance sandhill cranes and beavers.
CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) reports handling a call about an injured eagle and a call regarding a hawk in a grocery store.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked boaters and fishermen. While investigating complaints of littering on the Long Prairie River north of Alexandria, Officer Osborne contacted several tubing groups that consisted of numerous people under age 21 consuming alcohol and people 21 and older providing the alcohol. Enforcement action was taken, and reports will be sent to the county attorney’s office for review for possible charges against the adults providing the alcohol. A subject who provided alcohol to the people under 21 had an arrest warrant.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) continued working fishing, boating, PWC, and invasive species enforcement on area waterways.
CO Kurt Nelson (Glenwood) followed up on a wetland restoration order. Zebra mussels have now been found in Lake Minnewaska. AIS enforcement work was done on Lake Minnewaska and some Alexandria-area lakes as well.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) responded to a call regarding a nuisance bear. Recreational boating was the predominant activity given the hot weather.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) received calls regarding an excavated lakeshore on Lost Lake and nuisance bear activity. A site visit to the altered lakeshore resulted in citations for working in a public water without a permit and removing emergent vegetation without a permit. A restoration order is being developed by DNR staff.
CO Larry Francis (Remer) received calls regarding an upcoming fishing tournament, a structure in public waters, and a possible fish overlimit.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring ATV, boating, and angling activity. CO Broughten charged individuals and served a restoration order after a property owner had illegally placed a large amount of fill into an area lake.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) handled complaints about bears; one bear was shot by a homeowner.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) spent time on Rainy Lake checking fishing and boating activity. Several complaints about nuisance animals were handled, as was with a fish overlimit case at a U.S. Customs Port of Entry. An overdue boater on Lake Kabetogama was located and safely returned to the mainland with assistance from Voyageurs National Park staff and concerned citizens.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) reports an AIS presentation was conducted at the Lake Vermilion Take a Kid Fishing event. A public waters violation was investigated on Lake Vermilion, with enforcement action pending. A case was investigated regarding illegal transport of walleyes and a walleye within a protected slot limit. Many personal watercraft violations were detected, with enforcement action taken. Officers responded to a call about a nuisance bear on Pine Island in Lake Vermilion, where the campers were forced to kill the aggressive male bear that had no fear of them. The campers attempted to chase the bear off several times, without success.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked ATVers, boaters, anglers, a litter complaint, and the state park. The officer issued a wetlands cease and desist order to a person familiar with the process, as the individual was issued one seven years ago at the same location. Public waters and aquatic plant management violations also were addressed.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) followed up on trespass complaints and met with people reporting litter and dumping issues.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) reports a permit was issued to a remove beavers that are blocking a culvert, causing flooding.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked ATV and fishing enforcement. Complaints came in about everything from fireworks to boat docks.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) conducted checks of boaters and anglers returning from Canada; less than half the boats being transported had their plugs removed, and two were found to be carrying significant amounts of water from Canadian lakes. Several anglers also were relieved of illegally possessed fish in exchange for appropriate paperwork.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers, boaters, and patrolled for ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken for operating ATVs on a public highway.
CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) handled a complaint regarding a timber wolf and worked a special boating project during the week.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked boating activity in the area, with high numbers of recreational boaters on the water.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) worked area lakes for anglers and boaters and area accesses for invasive species. Officer Schmidt assisted Duluth police with an ATV class.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth West) reports anglers and boaters were checked throughout the week for safety and license compliance. Several issues were uncovered, including two anglers without fishing licenses and unregistered watercraft. A long-term disputed wetland violation site was revisited to ensure no further work is being done while the case makes its way through the court. Complaints continue on a small lake between two parties with opposing surface water use needs.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
Sgt. Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked boaters and anglers along the North Shore. The hot weather has many recreating in and around Lake Superior.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) spent the week working angling, boating, AIS, PWC, and commercial enforcement. Officer Ter Meer responded to a few water emergencies on Lake Superior, closed out some old cases, and investigated a fire. Enforcement action was taken for angling, boating, trapping, PWC, AIS, commercial, and traffic violations.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reports that invasive species enforcement work is a high priority in the Gull Lake area. The most common violation continues to be people transporting aquatic vegetation on their trailers and boats. He checked anglers on Mississippi and Crow Wing rivers and worked with Cross Lake Conservation Officer Nikki Shoutz, assisting Crow Wing County officials with a plane crash on the Whitefish Chain. CO Posner assisted CO Halverson with a problem bear south of Pillager.
CO Jim Guida (Nisswa) reports he started field training with COC Napoleon Genereux's on his second step.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) assisted with a plane crash on the Upper Whitefish Lake, which took the life of the pilot and injured the only passenger. She picked up “suspect” aquatic vegetation from two different lakes in her station (both found to be non-invasive species) and followed up on calls regarding nuisance animals including skunks, foxes, and bears. A complaint is being followed up on that involved a PWCer running over a baby loon and injuring it.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Mike Lee (Isle) checked anglers this past week who were reporting a so-so bite. Officer Lee patrolled area ATV trails and found minimal activity due to the hot conditions. Officer Lee also assisted the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Department with a disturbance call that led to the arrest of an individual for assault and burglary.
CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) worked fishing and boating activity. He also followed up on complaints of wetland filling and illegal PWC operation. Officer Verkuilen investigated a complaint of cutting hay on a wildlife management area.
WREO Robert Haberman (Brainerd) worked AIS enforcement throughout the Brainerd and Mille Lacs area. WREO Haberman also investigated wetland filling in the Garrison area.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) has started to receive requests for fall permits. He also answered questions about upcoming seasons. Enforcement contacts included operating OHMs in roadways, youth ATV operation, and no licenses in possession.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) met with some property owners and provided information on how to deal with nuisance bears that were threatening to people and were doing damage to property. Multiple TIP calls were taken that involved illegal taking of fish and wanton waste of fish.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) received TIP calls about nuisance bears. CO Kuske assisted the CO academy coordinator with preparing class curriculum and assisted District 12 officers with the investigation of illegal taking of big game.
CO Keith Bertram (WREO) spent the week checking anglers and boaters for possible AIS violations. CO Bertram also conducted commercial inspections.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) checked anglers, watercraft operators, and commercial turtle trappers during the week. Officer Martin also inspected a local taxidermist, while another officer interviewed the taxidermist about an illegal fur sale. Officer Martin checked an illegal turtle trap in the Sauk River; the trap didn’t have any identification as required by law, so it was seized. Anyone with information regarding the owner of the trap is asked to call TIP at 1-800-652-9093.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) participated in a work crew conducting commercial inspections. Anglers got an early start and left the lakes before the hottest part of the day.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked archery carp-shooting complaints resulting in enforcement action taken for taking game fish with archery equipment.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) spent time working anglers, boaters, and commercial trappers. Enforcement action for the week included no angling license, failing to keep proper records, and various boating equipment violations.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked fishermen on area lakes and rivers. He checked boaters on area lakes and rivers and took enforcement action for a number of violations. Officer Sladek followed up on a wetland and public waters violation; charges are pending.
CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) worked boaters and anglers on area lakes and rivers throughout the week. Animal complaints were handled and ATV activity was worked.
CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) investigated a TIP call regarding a bear shot illegally; a search warrant was served and the dead bear was found. The case is still under investigation. An inspection was done of a commercial license holder (taxidermist).
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) checked boaters and anglers, ATVers, and monitored AIS compliance at public accesses.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Steve Walter (Waconia) handled calls regarding a dead egret, goose crop damage, and dead muskies dumped near Lake Minnetonka. Calls were investigated regarding illegal rip rap on the Crow River, cattails being cut, and illegal burning.
CO Tony Salzer (Osseo) continued investigation of an illegal sand blanket and a submerged aquatic vegetation violation.
CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) worked boating enforcement on Lake Minnetonka, finding numerous violations including a personal watercraft boating while intoxicated violation, no PFDs, no registration, noise cut-outs, and wake violations.
CO Kevin Neitzke (Ft. Snelling) finished the first step of field training with CO Arntzen. They responded to a complaint regarding someone taking undersized fish in the St. Croix River. CO Neitzke gave six presentations to youth at a safety camp in Chaska.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked boating enforcement details on the St. Croix River. Enforcement action was taken for PFD violations, safety violations, and AIS violations. CO Muyres also investigated a waters complaint on the Rum River.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) gave a presentation on rules and regulations to an all-female firearm safety class in White Bear Lake. She worked on shoreline cases in Ramsey County and handled various TIP calls.
CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) patrolled the St Croix and Mississippi rivers. Hundreds of boats were observed during the weekend on the rivers. Enforcement action was taken for no PFDs, wake violations, registration, illegal boat exhaust, and numerous angling violations.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) spent the majority of the week working fishing, boating, and invasive species enforcement. WMA and wetland issues also were handled. Hot and humid weather continues to speed up algae blooms on area lakes. Dog owners are reminded to be aware of possible blue-green algae.
CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week checking anglers and enforcing boating/invasive species laws. An escaped deer from a game farm was reported; the deer is still at large.
CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) checked numerous anglers and boaters throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for pulling skiers without a mirror or spotter and burning prohibited materials.
CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports that warm weather has caused some lakes to get green, so be careful with your pets in these areas. Anglers are reminded that doing an AIS inspection is an important part of preparing your boat for a day on the lake.
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) patrolled area rivers and checked kayakers and people fishing for catfish. The Chippewa River Dam removal is complete. Time was spent on airboat training issues.
WREO Larry Hanson (Southern Region) attended a District 15 meeting in Marshall. An upcoming public waters case was discussed with the state Attorney General’s office. A WCA case was investigated in Nobles County, and AIS checks were completed on area lakes.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) enforced AIS laws throughout the week and noted overall good compliance. Officer Denz also spoke about laws and ethics to kids attending an advanced Forkhorn summer camp at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center.
CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent the week checking fishermen and boaters. Enforcement contact was made for fishing without a license, litter, unregistered boats, and lighting violations.
CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) reports continuing training with COC Amber Peterson. The officers worked angling, AIS, ATV, and boating enforcement. They also assisted with an AIS inspection checkpoint at Lake Washington.
CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) took a report out of Renville County regarding a juvenile bald eagle that knocked the hard hat off the head of a construction worker and then would not leave, apparently attempting to make a meal of the hat.
CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) conducted numerous watercraft-related inspections for safety equipment and AIS compliance. Angling activity was monitored. Lakeshores were patrolled for deviations in shoreline and excavation activity.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Bob Geving (Mankato) worked boating, angling, and AIS activities. Officer Geving also conducted an investigation of a possible wetland violation.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) worked lakes and rivers, checking boating and angling activity. Several ATV riders were checked. An investigation into an illegal burn is under way. Questions about the 2012 hunting season have begun to filter in.
CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) reports working an AIS inspection detail at Lake Washington this past weekend. Violations encountered this week included a fish overlimit, no angling license, failing to remove drain plugs, and failing to display watercraft registration.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports checking trout anglers in the area; fishing was fair. One subject was found to be fishing with extra lines in the center of a town. Enforcement action was taken. Time also was spent looking into a TIP call that turned into a disgruntled relative. No violations were found. CO Boyum also checked ATV complaints and looked into multiple complaints about people appropriating water for irrigational purposes.
CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked anglers and boaters during the week. He also attended training with Plainview Police Department officers.
CO Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports working fishing and boating enforcement this week primarily on the Zumbro, Cannon, and Mississippi rivers. The water on the river has returned to normal or below, and fishing has improved.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports river fishing has been good. He investigated an illegal dumping complaint and a fishing trespass incident that involved two angry parties. He also found a person with arrest warrants and turned him over to local law enforcement.
CO Scott Moran (Wabasha) reports spending the week on mostly fishing and boating activities.
CO Scott Fritz (La Crescent) reports seeing good number of turkey poults. The Mississippi continues to drop. Most wing dams are either showing or are close to the surface. If you venture off the main channel, proceed with caution.
