Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
Jun 28, 2021 04:47PM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - June 28, 2021
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) attended the Ride the Shore ATV event over the weekend. The event saw a very good turnout and compliance was found to be very high. Violations included failure to display current ATV registration, no state trail pass in possession, and angling with non-preserved minnows on a designated trout lake.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and boaters this past week. He continued to follow up on fishing complaints from this spring. Velsvaag continues to get reports of bears near houses and cabins looking for food and complaints of beavers cutting down trees at several different locations.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked anglers, AIS and boaters on area lakes. He checked ATV riders in the Finland area during a work detail with area officers.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked primarily angling and boating enforcement. A roadkill bear was taken care of. Violations included watercraft registration, insufficient number of PFDs, and navigational light violations.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling activity on area lakes. Schottenbauer hosted several out-of-area officers in an ATV work crew in the area as well this week.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a full week of activity along the shore. Bear-related calls are quickly picking up with dry conditions slowing natural food growth in the woods. This has pushed bears towards populated areas. One person in particular called with a bear problem but they refused to take down their bird feeders and instead wished the DNR would come and trap the bear and move it elsewhere. Hill has not heard from the person but if the feeders are still up Hill assumes the bear is still around. An ATV detail was worked in the Finland and Isabella area. Hundreds of machines were seen and Hill is happy to report that only four verbal warnings were issued for minor violations. Hill spoke with a person about the impacts of littering after he observed an angler flick a cigarette into the water while fishing.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked boating and invasive species enforcement efforts during the week. Fire danger remains high in the area and caution should be used with any outdoor burning. Angling success was observed to be slower on most inland lakes this week. Murray also assisted with a medical evacuation from a local state park.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) attended the Ride the Shore ATV event over the weekend. The event saw a very good turnout and compliance was found to be very high. Violations included failure to display current ATV registration, no state trail pass in possession, and angling with non-preserved minnows on a designated trout lake.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and boaters this past week. He continued to follow up on fishing complaints from this spring. Velsvaag continues to get reports of bears near houses and cabins looking for food and complaints of beavers cutting down trees at several different locations.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked anglers, AIS and boaters on area lakes. He checked ATV riders in the Finland area during a work detail with area officers.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked primarily angling and boating enforcement. A roadkill bear was taken care of. Violations included watercraft registration, insufficient number of PFDs, and navigational light violations.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling activity on area lakes. Schottenbauer hosted several out-of-area officers in an ATV work crew in the area as well this week.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a full week of activity along the shore. Bear-related calls are quickly picking up with dry conditions slowing natural food growth in the woods. This has pushed bears towards populated areas. One person in particular called with a bear problem but they refused to take down their bird feeders and instead wished the DNR would come and trap the bear and move it elsewhere. Hill has not heard from the person but if the feeders are still up Hill assumes the bear is still around. An ATV detail was worked in the Finland and Isabella area. Hundreds of machines were seen and Hill is happy to report that only four verbal warnings were issued for minor violations. Hill spoke with a person about the impacts of littering after he observed an angler flick a cigarette into the water while fishing.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked boating and invasive species enforcement efforts during the week. Fire danger remains high in the area and caution should be used with any outdoor burning. Angling success was observed to be slower on most inland lakes this week. Murray also assisted with a medical evacuation from a local state park.
