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FeedMInnesota Cuffs & Collars - May 4th, 2012
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) investigated an arson fire near Karlstad and attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. A sheep/goose depredation complaint was investigated. It turned out to be coyote depredation.
CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) investigated numerous fire investigations and checked ATV activity in the state forest.
CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) received a call about a sandhill crane killed out of season; the investigation is ongoing.
CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and fire activity throughout the week. Wolf depredation complaints were investigated, and invasive species inspections were done.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked anglers, boaters, and ATVers. Complaints about wolf depredation, a property line dispute, and stolen snares were investigated. Malinowski spoke with boaters and anglers about AIS laws and the AIS boat decal. Malinowski also assisted other law enforcement officers with a call involving a mentally ill person.
CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) checked anglers, boaters, beaver trappers, and ATVers. Several suspicious wildfires were investigated.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports a TIP call resulted in the detection of two anglers fishing without licenses and taking northern pike out of season. The two anglers had seven pike in their possession.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) attended annual CO training. Two wetland alteration complaints were investigated in which wetland filling was occurring. A complaint about a person shooting rabbits with a bow within the city limits was investigated. A person video-taped the shooting and posted it on YouTube and Facebook.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted with annual CO in-service training at Camp Ripley and provided training at the conservation officer academy.
Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson (Northwest Region) assisted with lake service provider training in Fergus Falls. Hanson met with DNR hydrologists regarding public waters alteration cases in Becker and Norman counties. A complaint about someone filling a wetland after dark was investigated.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) concentrated on turkey hunting and angling enforcement. TIP complaints were received, one of which provided information about anglers keeping northern pike. The information led to two anglers facing multiple charges and loss of fishing privileges.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) conducted the law and ethics talk at the Millerville firearms safety class. A goose-shooting complaint was investigated. CO Osborne assisted CO Richards with the TIP trailer at the Fergus Falls Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Day, and assisted the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with a call about a person shooting a neighbor’s dog.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) worked fishing and boating activity throughout the week. AIS contacts were made at public accesses, and many AIS watercraft decals were handed out. Turkey hunters were checked, and several birds were harvested in the area.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) focused enforcement efforts on anglers, invasive species enforcement, and commercial minnow enforcement. A restoration order was served due to unpermitted ditching in a protected waters wetland.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) worked with an invasive species specialist to address a zebra mussel incident, continued work on an active illegal trapping case, and investigated the illegal taking of a beaver. Parthun presented information and answered questions at a firearms safety class and met with the prosecuting attorney to discuss active cases. He also initiated an investigation on a wetland complaint and resolved a timber trespass issue. Enforcement action was taken for trapping violations and timber trespass.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) assisted Leech Lake conservation officers with an individual burning prohibited material.
CO Larry Francis (Remer) received calls regarding nuisance beavers and ATVers operating in a wetland. He monitored fishing and
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring spring trapping, ATV riding, and angling activity. CO Broughten responded to a complaint about a sick bear north of Longville. The bear appeared to be healthy but was staying in the area because people were feeding it from the road. Individuals were told the bear likely would leave if they’d stop feeding it.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked turkey season, and addressed road-hunting and trespassing issues.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley for two days. A small wildfire was investigated near Margie; the cause is unknown at this time. Sturgeon fishermen were out in full force on the Rainy River this past weekend; several fishermen were issued citations for failure to tag their sturgeon.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes and rivers during the week. Forest roads were checked and monitored.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) had a busy week with annual training, station duties, and Rainy River work. Crappie fishermen on Vermilion were checked, and two fires were investigated. A wetland issue was found when the CO responded to one of the fire calls. Rainy River sturgeon season was found to be in full swing with numerous fish being harvested.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) taught wildlife identification and wildlife-complaint classes at the conservation officer academy, and worked anglers, ATVers, and investigated a possible arson fire, seized accidental catches of otters and muskrats, investigated a wetland violation, and worked metal theft on state land. Anglers smoking marijuana and synthetic marijuana were the most frequent violators encountered, with three individuals cited for possession of a small amount of marijuana and/or possession of drug paraphernalia.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Reports were prepared for court and several litter cases were followed up on. Shore anglers were checked and questions were answered about the new AIS rules decal that is required for boaters. Upon finding out that COs can’t issue citations for the violation until 2014, one person remarked that he wasn’t going to put it on his boat until he had to, because he didn’t want to “ugly it up.”
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked for panfishing activity in the area and found little activity. Fredin checked out a report about small animal carcasses dumped; they appeared to be from last winter’s trapping season as all the carcasses were skinned.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked spring fish run activity and received an ATV complaint. CO Velsvaag also finished working on a trespass complaint.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled walleye-spawning areas, checked steelhead anglers, and assisted with firearm safety class. The officer also answered questions about nuisance beavers, boating regulations, and new invasive species laws.
CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) received calls about nuisance beavers and illegal dumping.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) assisted with the annual firearms in-service training at Camp Ripley. The officer also checked beaver trappers, and two more accidentally trapped otters were reported and seized.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) reports a spring firearm safety class was held in Two Harbors. Predator-control activities are ongoing in response to depredation of livestock.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) attended in-service training, checked anglers, worked commercial bait harvesting, and monitored OHV activity.
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked leech and minnow trappers, worked on several issues dealing with wolves, attended training at Camp Ripley, and patrolled the area for ATV activity.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) worked minnow-trapping activities in infested waters, attended training at Camp Ripley, worked a wildfire investigation, checked spring beaver trappers, delivered numerous AIS boat stickers, and investigated early sucker-spearing complaints.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ATV users during the week. Enforcement action was taken for operating on a county road, operating an unregistered ATV, and operating in a wetland.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) attended annual training and continued to assist with the new academy for conservation officer candidates. Officer Duncan also attended a firearm safety class and talked on the radio about AIS issues.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) continues to be called in to investigate fires in which someone lost control and the fire spread to nearby areas. Despite the seeming frequent rain and or snow showers during this time of year the forest and grass lands are extremely dry. No unnecessary burning should be taking place until things green up. The officer gave a presentation at a large local Firearms Safety Class. More sightings and reports of wolf depredation cases have been received.
CO Scott Staples and K-9 Schody (Carlton) followed up on a wetland violation complaint. A cease and desist order was issued, and site visits are planned in the near future to address the possible violation. A litter complaint in the Blackhoof WMA turned out to be a bear bait site from last fall. After investigating, enforcement action was taken for leaving bait sign up more than 48 hours after the close of the season, litter, and having non-biodegradable material in the bait. More follow-up is continuing with another stand that was left in the WMA.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (Northeast Region) worked on several wetlands violations in St. Louis County, which resulted in two cease and desist orders being issued. Officer Scott worked with DNR Forestry and the Hermantown Fire Department in investigating several suspicious fires in the Hermantown area.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers along Lake Superior. A day was spent instructing at the DNR CO academy at Camp Ripley. While returning from training, the officer was nearly hit by a driver who crossed the centerline while using the Internet on his or her cell phone.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) attended in-service training at Camp Ripley, picked up and tagged accidentally caught otters from area beaver trappers, and nuisance animal complaints were reported. Anglers were checked on area lakes, and enforcement action was taken for expired registration on watercraft.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) patrolled the station for angling activity and all-terrain vehicle traffic. Officer Guida also followed up on ATV and illegal dumping complaints. An angler was observed fishing on the Mississippi River with bait consistent to walleye and northern pike tackle. The angler appeared nervous and was asked to present his current angling license. The angler stated that he didn’t need a license because he was only 15. A look at his driver’s license revealed that he was 16 years old and required an angling license. The angler was verbally warned for attempting to take fish during the closed season and was issued a citation for false name and date of birth and angling without a license. An individual with the subject had an outstanding warrant for contempt of court with bail over $8,000. That individual was arrested and spent the weekend in jail.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked turkey hunters, fishermen, ATVers, and handled incidentally taken furbearers during the week.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
WREO Robert Haberman (Brainerd) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. He also had a presentation at watercraft inspector training in Brainerd.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) continued visiting farms and dealing with gray wolf depredation complaints.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking ATV activity in the Solana State Forest. Assistance was given at the DNR gun auction in Zimmerman during the weekend.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) spent time checking anglers and boaters throughout the week. He gave out numerous AIS boat stickers and spent time at local accesses working invasive species enforcement. CO Wynn followed up with a wetland complaint, burning complaints, and checked state forest areas. Calls regarding nuisance beavers and bears were handled.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) met with the county attorney to review pending cases. Heaton also investigated a grass and structure fire.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) checked ATV operators and anglers during the week. Officer Martin attended training at Camp Ripley and responded to TIP calls, as well. Officer Martin would like to remind everyone that the Turn in Poachers phone number is on the back of their hunting and fishing licenses.
CO Keith Bertram (WREO) issued three WCA restoration orders in Stearns County and spoke at a firearm safety class in St. Rosa.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) assisted with instruction at the CO academy. He also handled a nuisance wolf complaint.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) worked turkey hunters, anglers, invasive species enforcement, and wetland impacts. A TIP call was investigated, resulting in enforcement action for shooting a turkey out of car window, trespassing, and driving with a suspended license.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) reports a problem bear situation is being handled.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) checked turkey hunters. One hunter accidentally shot two turkeys with one shot; enforcement action was taken.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked fishermen on area lakes and rivers. He attended annual training at Camp Ripley and assisted neighboring officers with an investigation. He continues to work a number of litter complaints.
CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) worked boaters and anglers throughout the week. Time was spent at the Isanti Conservation Day, where more than 300 sixth-graders learned about the importance of our natural resources from various presenters.
CO Steve Walter (Waconia) checked turkey hunters and anglers. Enforcement action was taken for litter, possession of marijuana, angling for trout in a designated trout lake during the closed season, and taking northern pike during the closed season.
CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) responded to several calls about illegal fishing activity in Hennepin County. Several invasive species violations were encountered around Lake Minnetonka.
CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) took enforcement action for an overlimit of crappies, taking/possessing northern pike during the closed season, and failing to pull a boat’s drain plug.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Jason Jensen (Metro WREO) reports a week of AIS-related duties. Jensen worked the St. Croix River fishing opener with good AIS law compliance. Officer Jensen also started work on background investigations for potential candidates for the next CO academy.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) handled TIP calls and worked on a waters case in which an individual put out an oversized dock without a permit.
CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked angling enforcement in Anoka County. Enforcement action was taken for extra lines and license violations. CO Muyres also investigated a wetland complaint in Andover.
CO Vuthy Pril (ELCOP) worked the walleye opener on the St. Croix River with a neighboring conservation officer. He checked shore anglers and checked boaters for safety equipment. He also spoke at North High School to a group of students about conservation officer duties.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) checked turkey hunters along the Minnesota River Valley. He also spoke to boaters about AIS issues and handed out boat stickers. A dead armadillo found along a state highway drew questions from the public and media. This would be the third dead armadillo found in five years in his station. Based on evidence from previously found armadillos, it is believed that they either hitched a ride or were intentionally brought into the state.
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) reports complaints continue to be investigated dealing with walleyes and northerns taken out of season, with enforcement action being taken. The law and ethics portion of firearm safety classes was taught in Belview and Morgan in the vacant Redwood Falls station.
CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) responded to trespass and ATV complaints throughout the week. The officer continues to field AIS questions about stickers, drain plugs, and minnow buckets.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent the week checking turkey hunters, anglers, and watercraft users. Time also was spent checking ATV and OHM riders as well as attending training at Camp Ripley.
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) followed up on a wetland complaint in addition to complaints about litter. He attended a kids’ fishing clinic sponsored by the Little Crow Anglers and spoke about water and boating safety to approximately 150 adults and kids.
CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) reports speaking at a youth firearm safety class in Springfield, where volunteer instructor Richard Feser taught the last class of his 56-year career.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) worked the Minnesota/Iowa border water fishing opener. AIS discussions were had with anglers at the public access at Little Spirit Lake.
CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) completed his use of force instructor program at the St. Paul Police Department.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) spent the week checking boaters, anglers, and ATV operators. Officer Ihnen also checked turkey hunters and made contacts for AIS violations.
CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) reports spending time teaching a commercial minnow enforcement class at Camp Ripley. Time also was spent checking trout anglers on southeast Minnesota trout streams. Several TIP calls came in and are being investigated.
WREO Second Lt. Julie Siems (Rochester) instructed the law and ethics portion of a firearm safety class. A restoration order was delivered, and another wetland impact site was investigated.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Phil George (Rochester) checked turkey hunters and anglers. He received a complaint about people keeping walleyes during the closed season and shooting at deer. Also, he followed up on a trespass case from last winter.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports a good week of turkey hunting. He checked on complaints of turkey hunting trespass, ATVs in closed areas, and taking bass out of season.
CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) checked turkey-hunting activity and anglers. Mushroom pickers are doing well.
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports assisting with the second weekend of a youth turkey hunt. Success was limited due to the poor weather on Saturday. Three young hunters were able to tag their first turkey, though.
CO Scott Moran (Wabasha) reports spending the week checking anglers, boaters, and turkey hunters, as well as attending annual training at Camp Ripley. Volunteer workers were out on state trails, doing maintenance.
CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked anglers and turkey hunters during the week. Heyn also checked into a wetland complaint.
CO Scott Fritz (La Crescent) instructed a trespass class at the CO academy. He also investigated a trout angler who was keeping fish in the protected slot.
