DNR Enforcement report: Invasive species violations, Fishing etc.

Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwestern Minnesota for June 1:

District 1 - Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) responded to a cattle depredation call south of Badger. Area anglers were checked on Lake of the Woods and the Roseau River. CO Huener removed a nuisance bear that was shot at a residence near Roseau. ATV activity was also monitored.

CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) issued a Cease & Desist Order on a wetlands violation, handled a timber wolf depredation complaint, and took an intern on a water patrol detail. Boating safety packets were issued to local youth. CO Milbridge worked an invasive species special project and checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. Fishing success was good when anglers could get out. Enforcement action was taken for angling, fish transportation, and boating violations.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. Fishing success remains good. Enforcement action was taken for over limits of walleye, no fishing license, insufficient PFDs and boating safety violations. Several nuisance bear complaints were received. CO Birchem worked an invasive species project and took enforcement action on transporting water from Lake of the Woods, which is designated as "Infested Waters." Enforcement action was also taken on operating an ATV on a state highway.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) worked with COs Huener and Gorecki on Lake of the Woods and Upper Red Lake. Walleye success was spotty with wind and weather a factor for most of the weekend. Equipment maintenance was performed, and two gray wolf depredations were investigated. Enforcement action included license violations and transportation of infested waters.

CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) monitored area angling activity on the Red Lake River. High rain amounts in the area slowed activity due to high waters on area rivers. Follow-up was conducted on a gray wolf depredation. Memorial weekend was spent working angling activity on area rivers, Lake Bronson and Upper Red Lake. Off-road vehicle activity was monitored in the Beltrami Island State Forest.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) investigated a wolf depredation complaint, checked on a complaint of a bear causing damage and responded to a complaint of angling in a closed area. Anglers were checked as well as area boaters. CO Backer worked an invasive species detail on Upper Red Lake. Enforcement action for the week included license violations, boating safety violations and invasive species violations.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck) worked a busy week on Upper Red Lake. Anglers continue to have good success on the lake when the weather cooperates. Several limits were observed on the lake over the weekend. CO Vollbrecht provided a learning experience to an intern for two days during the week. A wolf depredation was investigated. ATV complaints were received in the Kelliher area and investigated. Violations encountered during the week included boating and angling violations.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing on Upper Red Lake and Lake of the Woods throughout the week. Fishing varied throughout the week with several days of heavy rain and wind. A boating safety presentation was given to kindergarten and first-graders at the Big Bog Recreational Area where boating laws and safety tips were discussed. CO Gorecki worked an angling and invasive species enforcement detail in the Lake of the Woods area where numerous over limit cases were made. Other enforcement action included fishing, ATV, and invasive species violations.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.

District 2 - Bemidji area

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) reports good success by bass anglers on the opening weekend. Water levels on area rivers are high making conditions difficult for shore anglers. The officer assisted the state patrol with a fleeing motorcycle. The driver fled into a wooded area. Nuisance animal calls are increasing. The officer participated in an interview with an area newspaper concerning seasonal topics.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked boaters, anglers, and ATVs. Complaints involving wolves, bear, and beaver were investigated. The officer assisted the state patrol with a fleeing motorcycle and a juvenile ATV operator on a state highway. This is the time of year when many wild animals are having their babies. Parents spend some time away from their young; leave the babies alone, in most cases the parents will return when you leave. Violations detected: Leech trapping in a WPA, camping on a public access and PWC operation.

CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) reports many anglers and recreational boaters on the lakes over the holiday weekend. Anglers report a slow walleye bite. Boating safety law compliance was very good. Area ATV trails were patrolled, and wolf depredation complaints investigated.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports mixed success by area anglers. Boaters and ATVs were also checked. Complaints of ATVs operating in the road ditch in the Ag Zone were investigated. Violations detected: no watercraft registration, no PFDs on a watercraft, no angling license in possession, ORV/ATV operating in the road ditch and illegal parking at a public access.

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) reports high winds reduced boating activity over the holiday weekend. Bass and sunfish anglers had good success, but the walleye bite was slow. Some nice catfish were taken on the Red River, even though the water level is high. ATV activity increased over the weekend, and enforcement action was taken for illegal youth ATV operation, operate ATV on the road and no ATV registration. Two wetland alteration sites were inspected with SWCD personnel.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) checked anglers and boaters. Complaints of people taking bass before the start of the season were investigated and enforcement action taken. ATV, PWC, dogs chasing deer and public waters alteration complaints were also investigated. Goose depredation and nuisance animal calls are increasing.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) patrolled state forests for illegal and juvenile party spots, and ATV activity. Boaters and anglers were checked. Two anglers were caught taking bass during the closed season. The officer responded to a call of a bear hit by a car.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) reports many anglers and boaters on area lakes over the holiday weekend. Anglers and boaters were checked and invasive species enforcement done. Complaints of illegal fishing, fish over limits, illegal weed rollers and shooting geese were investigated.

Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson checked anglers and boaters on infested invasive species lakes. Hanson reminds people of zebra mussels in Pelican Lake (Otter Tail County) and the importance of draining live wells and bilge water before leaving the lake. Lake of the Woods and Red Lake were also worked. Enforcement action was taken for failure to empty water. Anglers traveling from LOW (spiny water Flea infested) to Red Lake (not infested) are common; empty the water from your boat to prevent the spread of invasive species. Wetland alteration violations in Clay and Ottertail counties, and public waters alteration sites in Becker and Beltrami counties were investigated