District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2021-07-26
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and monitored ATV activity around Warroad. ATVs were checked on the trail west of Warroad after multiple complaints of fast and loud machines operating behind residences. Charges are pending for the operator of an ATV who was driving recklessly doing wheelies on a state highway, while driving privileges were revoked and as a minor while drinking. Enforcement action was also taken for an angler using too many lines.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) handled nuisance-bear complaints and checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. A restoration order was served for a wetlands violation.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) assisted the U.S. Marshall Service with a ground search for a homicide suspect and taught a youth ATV safety class in Warren during the Marshall County Fair.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) checked anglers, investigated a possible wolf depredation and continued to assist the Pennington County Sheriff?s Office with its fugitive search. Help was also given to CO Woinarowicz with a youth ATV safety class in Warren. Enforcement action taken for angling-related violations.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working AIS enforcement, as well as boating and angling activity on special regulation lakes this past week. Time was spent patrolling area recreational vehicle trail complaint areas, investigating wolf-depredation complaints and working an ongoing case involving the eagles that were shot earlier this spring. Regas reports progress was made and the investigation continues. Violations encountered and addressed this past week included boating safety equipment and angling license violations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports working AIS and ATV enforcement throughout the area. Enforcement action was taken for youth on ATVs without helmets. Be sure that all required safety equipment is used when operating ATVs.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2021-07-26
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working on waters- and wetland-related cases. Time was also spent checking anglers and ATV operators. A wolf-depredation complaint was investigated.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) patrolled area lakes for boating and angling activity.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports patrolling area lakes for fishing, watercraft and personal watercraft activity. Vinton was called by staff with DNR Wildlife to investigate a possible large-scale dumping violation on an area wildlife management area. A Resource Protection Notice was issued.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) monitored area lake activities and assisted with an ATV detail in Wadena County. Area boating activity remained steady with warm weather. Swedberg also patrolled for ATV activity around Becker County and assisted the county with traffic control for a barn fire.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted a local sheriff?s office, attended a Use of Force meeting, assisted other conservation officers with the execution of a search warrant, and responded to a complaint of unsafe discharge of a firearm.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing, boating and water safety, AIS and ATV enforcement. A wolf-depredation complaint was investigated. Time was also spent issuing a cease and desist order for an aquatic plant management violation.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. Leeching ponds were monitored and patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Warren assisted White Earth Police with a motor vehicle crash..
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring angling, boat and water safety, aquatic plant management, and ATV activity in the Pelican Rapids and Moorhead stations. Anglers are still finding cooperative panfish and crappies, but the walleye fishing has slowed down. While working with CO Chihak, an individual was observed removing a large amount of wild rice from in front of his property and a cease and desist order was issued for the violation. Property owners are reminded to check the regulations prior to removing aquatic plants. Calls from the public included complaints loud watercraft, partying at beach locations, leeching complaints, and public access issues. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, angling without a license, insufficient PFDs, and ATV-registration violations.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-07-26
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports typical summer recreation on area lakes with some decent fishing. Time was concentrated around the lakes focusing on boat safety and angling. Contacts were also made with riders of recreational off-road vehicles.
CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) reports monitoring public accesses and lakes for AIS, boating and angling activities. Calls regarding wildlife-possession permits and water quality concerns were fielded in addition to assisting with a driving complaint. Goodman joined a work crew on Lake Minnewaska over the weekend, which included enforcement action taken for boating under the influence, minor consumption and various boat safety equipment and registration violations.
CO Shane Osbourne (Evansville) checked boaters, ATV riders and anglers. A work detail on Lake Minnewaska for Waterama was attended. Several alcohol and boating related citations and arrests were made. Several questions in regards to the early teal season were received and referred to the Section of Wildlife.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) spent the week on the water patrolling for anglers and recreational activity. Lots of hot days led to busy accesses and lakes with most people in good compliance. A few citations were issued for insufficient PFDs, overloaded watercraft and no angling license. A detail on Lake Minnewaska was worked with other COs and several citations were issued for underage consumption of alcohol and multiple arrests were made for BWI. One person required medical attention. She was severely intoxicated and alone on a boat sitting in the sun while her friends partied nearby.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) checked angling and recreational vehicle activity in the area. Time was also spent monitoring AIS compliance and working on a safety class. Complaints involving trapping and nuisance animals were followed up on.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle activity throughout the week. Enforcement action taken included multiple underage consumption citations along with various boating and personal watercraft violations. A BUI arrest was also made. Numerous nuisance-animal-related questions were fielded.
CO Dan Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on AIS, boating and fishing enforcement. Baumbarger, with the help of multiple COs, worked the annual Waterama Festival on Lake Minnewaska over the weekend. Activity on the lake was very high. Officers working the lake made multiple underage consumption cases, arrested two boat operators for BWI and contacted many boaters for various boating safety and registration violations. Additional time was spent on injured- and orphaned-animal calls.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2021-07-26
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports focusing efforts on seasonal activity such as ATV, AIS, angling and watercraft enforcement. He reports fielding numerous calls about injured and deceased wildlife. He also report assisting local law enforcement agencies and investigating damage-to-wetland cases. He also wants to remind local residents and visitors to review Living with Bears in Minnesota, which is available on the DNR website.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked boating and ATV activity. She responded to a jet ski accident, and investigated shoreline violations. Enforcement was taken on an ATV violation.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) spent time working sport fishing enforcement throughout the week. Kunst also assisted in educating youth at a boating safety class.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) primarily patrolled ATV activity in the area. Baum attended a local firearms safety class and assisted with instruction of the game and fish laws. Baum also assisted with some ATV patrols in surrounding area. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of violations.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent time on ATV, fire and fishing enforcement during the week. The area received some rain, but fire risk remains high and more restrictions were put in place on allowed fires. Time was also spent assisting with safety education classes.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily worked boating, angling, and ATV enforcement. Work continues on a public-water-alteration case. Mathy assisted with retrieving an injured loon, which was later transported to a care facility. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
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