MN DNR K-9 Conservation Officers

Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2025-04-07

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) patrolled area wildlife management areas and Lake of the Woods. Violations for the week included angling without a license, angling with an extra line, and possessing dead bait that is not VHS certified.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Wood, Hayes Lake State Park, and the Beltrami Island State Forest. Fontes also attended a Law Enforcement Memorial Association training. Fontes reports that many people were more than 200 feet from their tip-ups, and that a lot of folks were in possession of illegal bait. All anglers using frozen shiners, alewives, herring, or similar species must ensure the packaging outlines that the bait was sourced from VHS-free waters, or that it was preserved by a person who is properly licensed to do so. Additional violations encountered were the use of an extra line, no state park pass, and fishing without a fishing license.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports continued angling pressure on Lake of the Woods and nearby tributaries. The Rainy River continues to lose ice, and boaters are braving the cold water to find walleyes and sturgeon. Time was spent following up on ongoing investigations.

CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) worked angling activity along the Rainy River and attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. Anglers reported varied success with walleyes and sturgeon. Enforcement action for the week included angling with extra lines, improper display of registration, no license in possession, various watercraft-safety equipment violations, and angling without a license.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to a nuisance-bear complaint, checked local anglers, and conducted follow-up investigations on open big-game cases. Enforcement action for the week included taking northern pike in a closed season and a non-resident purchasing a license restricted to residents.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) continued working on cases from the past deer season. Time was also spent handling nuisance-bear complaints. People are remined to remove trash and bird feeders to help with bears.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) attended annual training at Camp Ripley.

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2025-04-07

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week working angling enforcement on area river systems in the Crookston station. Time was also spent monitoring ATV-complaint areas for activity and checking spring beaver/otter-trapping activity.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent his weekly patrols in search of anglers looking for panfish. He continued investigations of an ongoing aquatic plant case. He is starting to see some ATVs out, as riders are eager for the changing of the seasons.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) attended in-service training at Camp Ripley this week. Additional time was spent monitoring fire and fishing activity. Coordination and planning for outreach activities and safety classes are ongoing.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley and continues to work on active investigations. Lakes are no longer safe for travel, and trails and forest roads remain closed in the station.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week at annual in-service training. Time was also spent on online training recertifications and fielding questions about nuisance beavers.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) monitored ice conditions in preparation for leeching and fish run activity. Wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas were patrolled. Areas were worked for ATV and off- road vehicles and public accesses were patrolled.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. Public land and lake accesses were checked throughout the week and roads were patrolled for ATV activity. Manteufel would like to remind people to review and follow burning regulations, contact the DNR with questions, and obtain a permit, as some burns have been checked and observed in the area recently.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week monitoring angling activity, handling wildlife-related complaints, and assisting with annual in-service training at Camp Ripley.

CO Curtis Jepson (District #2) continued patrolling public lands and area forest roads. Jepson observed a few eager anglers still venturing out onto the ice. A reminder that ice conditions are poor in most areas and an ATV broke through the ice earlier in the week. Annual training was also completed.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2025-04-07

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent time at Camp Ripley this week for annual training. She also worked on wetland and public water violations.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) attended annual in-service training through the week. Trapping and ATV activity was monitored, and questions were fielded about the upcoming turkey hunting season.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) monitored the very little angling and ATV activity that is still present in the area. Brown also spoke at a firearms safety class in Hoffman. Annual training was completed.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) took calls about ATV and snowmobile safety classes and instructor clinics. An injured-animal complaint was received and handled. Station equipment maintenance was performed.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling and trapping activity. Time was spent giving a law and ethics talk at a local firearms safety class. Additional time was spent following up on various ongoing cases in the station.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent time monitoring the rise in ATV activity and spring beaver trapping. She took various wildlife-related complaints and conducted commercial inspections.

CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) reports significant boating and angling activity on Lake Traverse and the Mustinka River. Anglers at the Mustinka River and State Highway 117 access need to be aware of border water signage indicating which side of the bridge is open for continuous seasons. Stringer attended in-service training at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action for the week included operating an ATV on a closed trail, careless and negligent acts resulting in a fire, use of an unauthorized incinerator, no angling license in possession, failure to display watercraft registration, and failure to have a required lifesaving device immediately available.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports completing training and working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement throughout the week.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on monitoring spring fish-run activity and checking beaver trappers. Additional time was spent performing commercial minnow inspections and attending training.

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2025-04-07

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, performed equipment maintenance, and attended annual training at Camp Ripley during the week.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) attended in-service training at Camp Ripley and assisted with medical training for fellow officers. Baum patrolled the local area for angling and snowmobile activity and found decreased activity with recent heavy snowfall. Baum reminds people that area forest roads are closed for spring conditions.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) reports a majority of the week was spent at required training at Camp Ripley. Ice on area lakes has diminished and is unsafe to walk on. A wildlife-possession permit was issued.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass County lakes for angling activity. Very little angling activity was noted as the ice has significantly deteriorated. McGowan attended annual officer in-service training at Camp Ripley during the week as well.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) attended training at Camp Ripley.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) attended annual training and assisted with a female-only firearms safety class. She also received calls regarding nuisance animals.