Conservation Officer reports for July 23

District 9 - Brainerd area

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked angling, boating, AIS, and ATV activity. The officer will be trying to locate an individual who left an infested waters access being monitored by an AIS inspector.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) assisted with an AIS check station where several contacts were made. She had a firearm safety class at the Long Lake Conservation Center and completed equipment inspections. CO Ladd also checked several boaters and anglers this week.

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled for ATV and boating activity throughout the week. CO McGowan also assisted other officers in a big game case. Enforcement action was taken for traffic violations and numerous boating violations.

CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked ATV's, boaters, and fishermen. A reminder that when operating an ATV in the road right of way, the open container rule applies to all motor vehicles, including ATV's. Officer Hunter received a call of boaters operating under the influence on a local lake which ended up with one individual being arrested.

CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reported that he spent most of his time this week on boat and water enforcement. Violations he observed were not enough life saving devices and expired registration. He checked anglers and the catching has slowed likely due to the high water from all the recent rain. He worked with a Cass County Deputy on no boat light violations after sunset on Gull Lake. Enforcement time was also spent on AIS complaints generated by AIS inspectors. Reports of folks failing to submit to inspection, transporting zebra mussels, and failing to drain water from their boats were received.

CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) testified in a deer baiting case from last fall, followed up on a call of multiple deer crossing a roadway to go to a neighborhood feeder causing a traffic concern, and assisted the Sheriff's Office with a BWI arrest. The officer responded to a complaint of a very loud boat and after a citation was issued, the operator told the officer that he may as well come back every weekend and give him a ticket because he had no intention of fixing the boat exhaust. CO Collette also found a couple of youths doing donuts on ATVs in the parking lot of the local baseball field. After discussing the issue with the kids and their responsible adults, it was decided that the youths would return the next day to fix the damage by hand.

CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) attended background investigator training at Camp Ripley. Background investigations for next year's academy will be starting in the near future.

Cuyuna SRA - vacant.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking fishermen and boaters during the week and weekend. The officer assisted a local agency with a water rescue call and many outdoor law related questions were fielded. CO Fitzgerald assisted with an AIS check station and AIS activity was also monitored throughout the Malmo area. A call regarding nuisance beaver was taken and a permit was issued. Questions regarding a possible nuisance wolf were answered and patrol was done for ATV activity. Several nuisance bear complaints were also fielded.

CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) received bear complaints and nuisance beaver questions. She worked fishing enforcement and patrolled problem areas for ATV violations. CO Speldrich and the LEMA Caisson team assisted in the funeral for Marine Sgt. James Joseph Hubert. Sgt. Hubert was MIA after the battle of Tarawa in World War II. Nearly 75 years later, his remains were located and brought home to Duluth.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked on two fire cases in which prohibited materials were burnt. Fishing activity was worked with smallmouth bass providing some action. ATV activity was found to be moderate, with good compliance overall. Violations for no fishing license and failing to display ATV registration were found. Some bear calls were handled and advice given on visiting bear that were not being a nuisance.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent most of the week patrolling area lakes and rivers. Fishing pressure was not quite as heavy with warming lake temperatures but lakes were extremely busy with waterskiing, tubing, and jet skis. Violations dealt with included jet skiers operating too fast near shore and near anchored boats, operating unregistered boats, and fishing without licenses.

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) took numerous calls on nuisance animals during the week. He issued nuisance beaver permits and gave advice for nuisance bear and geese problems. CO Wynn assisted the Pine County Sheriff's Department with several calls including a foot pursuit, domestic disturbances, and suicidal threats. He answered questions about concerns with no wake buoys in the Pine City area and spent time checking areas in the Chengwatana and St. Croix State Forests.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) patrolled area state forest and WMA's for ATV activity. Time was spent training at Camp Ripley and teaching law/ethics to a firearms safety class. Assistance was given to the local sheriff's office on a disturbance call at a local gas station. Assistance was also given on a search and rescue on Mille Lacs when a Jet-Ski rider was thrown from the craft and unable to retrieve it due to wind conditions. He was found some distance from the craft and about two miles from shore attempting to swim back. This is definitely a case where the life jacket saved his life. Party was pulled from the water and returned to the resort.

District 4 - Walker area

CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring angling, boating, AIS, and ATV activity. CO Broughten investigated complaints of destroying aquatic vegetation, waters violations, and angling with unattended lines. CO Broughten also assisted with a fish over limit investigation; fish were seized and charges are pending. Other enforcement action included OHM and ATV violations.

CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) handled bear and wolf calls this week. Two wolves were caught after killing a calf at a local ranch.

Walker - vacant.