MN DNR Conservation Officer

Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2024-08-26

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) attended training at Camp Ripley.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week monitoring ATV traffic, monitoring area bear baits, and following up with various complaints.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling the Warroad River, Beltrami Island State Forest, and Lost River State Forest. Enforcement action was taken for taking fish without an angling license, use of an extra line, operating an ATV in a restricted area, driving after revocation, and operating an unregistered ATV.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports increased ATV activity in the Beltrami Island State Forest. Time was spent working ATV and bear-hunting activity.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to a call of a tractor on fire in a field, monitored area bear-baiting activity, and patrolled for ATV violations. One of the ATV operators contacted was carrying her 2-month-old daughter on a chest carrier. The operator also had her 2-year-old son sitting next to her. The son was without a helmet and unrestrained. Enforcement action was taken for the offenses.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) continued monitoring bear-baiting activity. Various wildlife-related complaints were taken and handled.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) followed up on a big-game case, monitored ATV activity, and responded to calls regarding nuisance animals.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on area lakes. Time was spent checking bear-bait stations and patrolling forest roads for ATV activity. Lakes were checked for individuals harvesting wild rice, but conditions are poor this year.

Weekly CO report

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2024-08-26

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and watercraft operators. Time was also spent checking bear-baiting activity. Various aquatic plant management, wetland, and public water-related cases were followed up on.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time patrolling area lakes and checking bear-bait stations. He followed up with complaints of aquatic plants being cut without a permit. A validated nuisance-bear hunter was able to successfully take a bear damaging a farmer?s crops. Enforcement action was taken for angling with no license in possession, insufficient PFDs, no fire extinguishers, and expired watercraft registration.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) worked with COC Calli Oberg this week. They focused primarily on ATV and sport fishing enforcement. Walleye fishing is picking up in the area and some anglers were having success. Swedberg also spent time getting equipment ready for the upcoming hunting season and attended a training meeting.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) reports continued angling activity on local lakes as the summer draws to a close. Bear-baiting activity has begun within state forests at several locations, with minimal ATV activity observed. Anderson and COC Stringer removed an abandoned watercraft from Itasca State Park. Enforcement action for the week included people operating off-highway motorcycles on the road right-of-way, ATV with no headlights, and several PFD violations during boating checks on local lakes.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) continued field training with COC Jepson. The officers worked a trespass call regarding an ATV driving through a soybean food plot. Time was also spent following up on calls related to aquatic plants. With minimal snowfall from last winter, lakes in the Pelican Rapids station are seeing an abnormal bloom of aquatic vegetation floating in large mats. A law and ethics portion of a firearms safety class was taught at the Elizabeth Community Center and the officers also worked bear activity. Enforcement action was taken for bear baiting on waterfowl production areas.

CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity, with anglers reporting a fair bite. AIS inspections were performed, with great compliance outcomes. Wildlife management areas and forest areas were worked for bear-baiting activity and ATV and off-road vehicle activity was worked on area trails. Warren provided information and answered questions at a local pheasant hunting kids day. Follow up on open cases continued.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked area bear baits and public lands this week for activity. Many calls were also answered, and fields were observed where bears were destroying crops. He also removed abandoned leech traps from an area pond and checked anglers. Two days answering questions at the State Fair information booth were also worked.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent time patrolling area lakes, handling nuisance-bear complaints, and monitoring bear-baiting activity. Additional time was spent assisting the Becida Sportsman?s Club with a firearms safety field day and working a State Fair security detail.

Pelican Rapids vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2024-08-26

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) attended training at Camp Ripley this week. Follow up on lake service providers was done, a background investigation continues, and fishing activity was monitored. Enforcement action was taken for an aquatic vegetation violation. Owners of dogs running at large were contacted and educated on keeping dogs at home where they belong.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and boating activity during the week. Enforcement action this week included angling without an angling license in possession, insufficient number of life jackets onboard, and no fire extinguisher on board watercraft. Time was also spent with nuisance-wildlife complaints.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. Aquatic plant management permit violation investigations continue. ATV safety class preparation continues.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Homan attended a State Fair detail on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair. Time was also spent at the Alexandria Youth Outdoor Activity Day.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) teamed up with neighboring partners to have extra enforcement on busier lakes. She encountered many violations, including anglers keeping northern pike within the protected slot. Many anglers were successful. She handled various calls for service and followed up on big-game violations.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) worked a background investigation throughout the week. A technical evaluation panel meeting was also attended regarding area wetland violations.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers and boaters and monitoring AIS law compliance. Time was also spent on equipment maintenance and attending training at Camp Ripley.

Wheaton vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2024-08-26

CO Corey Sura (Remer) checked bear-bait stations and anglers on area lakes. ATV activity was monitored, and enforcement action was taken for operating ATVs on a state highway.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for ATV and bear-baiting activity. Baum conducted a site visit for a potential wetland violation and followed up with other aquatic plant cases. Baum finalized planning for an upcoming firearms safety class at the Mantrap Valley Conservation Club in October.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Leech Lake and other Cass County lakes throughout the week. McGowan continues to field train a new conservation officer candidate from the most recent Academy. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating and angling violations.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) did commercial license checks. She also responded to public access reports, such as litter dumped.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) concluded work on a pre-employment background investigation. He also assisted at a youth firearms safety class for more than 20 students. Finally, Cross worked wild ricing, off-highway vehicle traffic, boating, and angling.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) attended a firearms safety class and presented a laws and ethics presentation. Follow up was completed with lake service providers regarding some expired permits. Saewert spent time assisting at the Minnesota State Fail with a security detail.

CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports working on a background investigation for a potential new hire. Seifermann and his K9 partner Jet also attended the Minnesota State Fair and conducted demonstrations with the K9 team.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continued to work on a background investigation of a CO applicant. Some time was spent working on items related to the new licensing system. Mathy went on a wetland alteration site visit and responded to a bear-hunting related complaint.

ATV rec officer vacant.