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Boreal Community Media

Weekly Conservation Officer Reports

Aug 24, 2020 01:21PM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - August 24, 2020

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) spent the week concentrating on bear-baiting enforcement. Baits established north of Ely were down greatly from previous years. Williams also assisted Lake and St. Louis counties search and rescue with a recovery after a fatal airplane crash occurred on White Iron lake.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked boaters and anglers this past week. He also dealt with ATV complaints and litter problems. Velsvaag looked at bear-baiting activity and past problem areas.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked bear-bait stations and anglers on remote trout lakes and Lake Superior. ATV complaints were followed up on. Several nuisance-wildlife complaints were handled. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and fishing violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) continued checking bear-bait stations and patrolling area forest roads and trails. Nuisance-bear complaints are down and taking a backseat to nuisance camper and traveler complaints. Visitors are reminded there is no maid service in the outdoors and items such as dirty diapers, toilet paper and used baby wipes don?t just disappear when thrown in the woods. 

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area bear-baiting activity this past week. Time was also spent on area ATV trails. Schottenbauer worked shore anglers as well.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports gearing up for fall hunting seasons as the questions begin to roll in. Anglers were also checked and, as always, lake trout dominate the live wells coming off the big lake. Bear baits were monitored and a few ATV contacts were made along the way. Hill stopped multiple people for failing to remove their drain plug before transport. Hill took part in a detail in the metro.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked an ATV detail with District 8 officers and monitored bear-baiting activity. Hunters are reporting plenty of bear activity this year. Fishing reports were mixed as poor weather and foggy conditions made access difficult on Lake Superior. Murray also took part in a detail in the Twin cities earlier in the week.


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