Justin Runberg

A northern Minnesota conservation officer helped an elderly woman scare off a nuisance bear after it returned to her yard a day after his initial visit.
Ben Huener, who patrols the Baudette area, responded April 8 after the woman, who lives alone, reported bear tracks and damage around her home. She found bent bird feeders, torn food, and paw prints on her deck and was worried.

Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer Annette Schlag is recovering after rescuers airlifted her from a remote area in southeastern Minnesota.
Schlag fell 20 feet while attempting to remove an illegal deer stand and was unable to move. Because of the severity of her injuries and the difficult terrain, the Minnesota Air Rescue Team (MART) conducted the rescue.

A Minnesota DNR K9 is being remembered for his service and community impact after dying of leukemia last month.
K9 Fennec served five years as part of a DNR K9 team. He spent his last three years with DNR Conservation Officer Michael Fairbanks as his handler. Fairbanks said the loss of K9 Fennec has been deeply felt, personally and across the Deer River community he serves.
“I spent more time with Fennec than I did with my own family,” Fairbanks said.