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Boreal Community Media

Weekly Conservation Officer Reports

Aug 20, 2019 10:32AM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - August 19, 2019


CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the bear-baiting season is off to a good start in the area of the Echo Trail. Bear foods aren?t as plentiful as in past years, but berries are still available. Most of the baits inspected showed a lot of recent bear activity for the first weekend and a high level of compliance was observed.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers this past week and followed up on a boating complaint. He also checked bear-baiting activity and took several calls on trapping and bear-baiting regulations and AIS concerns. Velsvaag also patrolled several special regulation lakes.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) followed up on an illegal camping complaint, checked ATV riders, and checked bear-bait registrations and bait sites.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) attended training, attended court, worked on cases, answered questions about bear-baiting regulations, and checked anglers and boaters on station lakes. In one instance, two anglers who claimed they had licenses left after the check and purchased licenses 30 minutes later at a local bait shop. Enforcement action included several instances of fishing without a license and a couple instances of no PFDs.

David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and ATV activity this past week. Time was spent working on equipment as well. Bear baiting started, and he spent time checking area baits.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking anglers on inland lakes and Lake Superior. He monitored bear-bait activity and followed up on complaints. Wahlstrom also attended mandatory training in Brainerd.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked bear-baiting activity and investigated a report of nuisance wolf activity. Angling activity slowed down on Lake Superior this past week partly due to strong winds and thunderstorm activity in the area. A report of an abandoned vehicle on a state trail is also being investigated.

Grand Marais #1 vacant. 

Boreal Ship Spotter - larger view here