CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) completed a BWCA trip with CO Huener early in the week. The wilderness was busy, and violations detected included walleye overlimits, transporting fish without a skin patch, extra lines, no PFDs, cans/glass, and making a new campsite. A good fish bite was noted. Numerous nuisance-bear calls were fielded, as were a variety of other questions and complaints. Time was also spent at the CO Academy evaluating scenarios. Additional enforcement action was taken this past week for litter, unregistered watercraft, insufficient PFDs, no navigation lights after sunset, and taking beavers in a closed season.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week checking ATV riders, anglers and boaters. He attended a Glock armorers training in the metro.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) spent the past week patrolling the BWCA with officers from across the state on their first wilderness patrol. He also assisted the St. Louis County Rescue Squad with a search for a person who had become lost after they had mistakenly travelled down the wrong waterway inside the BWCA. The lost boater was found several miles from any paddling route. Williams, the Rescue Squad and U.S. Border Patrol assisted them in walking out of the wilderness. 

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and boaters this past week. He also took multiple calls of nuisance animals and questions about the upcoming hunting seasons. Most of the questions were about the changes in waterfowl regulations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV and angling activity this past week. Fishing success was mixed as severe weather limited fishing opportunity. Murray and CO Keith Olson responded to a live power line down near a state campground. No injuries were reported.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended an Honor Guard meeting and helped again with scenarios at the DNR Academy at Camp Ripley. She checked bear bait stations for early setup and baiting. She also answered general baiting questions. Manning followed up on a noise and target-shooting complaint in a state forest campground. The group had left the campground but not before one member left a pile of human waste and toilet paper in the campsite, which is directly across from the outhouse.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked an area TIP complaint. Time was spent taking several bear-complaint calls and checking anglers in the BWCAW. Schottenbauer also helped at the CO Academy at Camp Ripley this past week. 

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports an excellent bite on Lake Superior with nice fish of various species being seen in live wells. Be sure to brush up on fish identification before you head out as some anglers kept the incorrect species of fish. One angler coming off of the lake was cited for an overlimit of rainbow trout from an inland trout lake after Hill located a frozen bag of fish in a cooler in their truck. Nuisance-bear complaints are still coming in, along with questions regarding the upcoming bear season. A couple of ATV riders were spoken to about headlight usage and properly displaying their registration. Hill responded to an illegal target-practicing complaint at a state forest campground.