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District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling and boating activity was high for the Memorial Day weekend holiday. Fishing reports were generally better than previous weeks and a good number of larger fish were seen. Violations included failure to display watercraft registration, angling without a license in possession, and taking trout with no trout stamp.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) patrolled his station this week for fishing, boating, and AIS activity. He also patrolled for ATV activity.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time in the BWCA checking anglers. He responded to a search and rescue call in the BWCA with area officers. A ll p arties a nd g ear w ere located and transported safely back to shore. Enforcement action was taken for angling in a closure, and boating and license violations.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) reports that many folks hit the woods and water for the holiday weekend. The fish were biting, but so were the bugs. Ledeen assisted the U.S. Forest Service with a rescue in the BWCA, where six people had capsized their canoes and became stranded. Luckily, all six people were wearing their life jackets. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of violations throughout the week.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) workedwithCOLarsonintheBWCAW for several days. Time was also spent patrolling the ATV trails with a St. Louis County deputy. Enforcement action for the week included ATV, offhighway motorcycle, and watercraft registration violations and operating on a closed trail. Some angling success was noted in the BWCAW despite high winds making for difficult canoeing. Numerous groups had capsized canoes and lost gear. An abnormally high number of water-related incidents in the area lately provide a stark reminder of theimportanceofusingsafetygearand not taking unnecessary risks.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a busy holiday weekend along the North Shore. ATV use was high in the area and campgrounds were busy to start off the camping season. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and licensing violations. Nuisance-bear calls increased in the area this week and trash bins and birdfeeders are the main attractant for unwanted bear visits.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports fishing and boat and watersafetyenforcementonRainyLake continues to be the main emphasis of the workload. Enforcement action for the week included no fishing license, no licenses in possession, and failure to have proper safety equipment onboard. Bear- and deer-related complaints were also handled, along with ATV violations.Peopleareremindedtoleave young fawns where they are. Don’t disturb them and give them space.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports spending time this past week checking anglers on Rainy Lake and the Rainy River. Time was also spent working in the BWCA. Nuisanceanimal calls were addressed as well.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports more pleasant weather brought out anglers and recreational boaters over the Memorial Day weekend. The warmer weather has also encouraged the mosquitos, gnats, and wood ticks to increase activity as well. Wild-animal-related complaints were heard and responded to. Time was spent monitoring incoming traffic for aquatic invasive species compliance, which seems to have improved greatly since last year.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring arealakesandriversforangling and boating activities. Local forest roads were checked for ATV activity. Public water access sites were visited. Additional time was spent working on equipment, completing various administrative tasks, and returning phone calls.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time thisweekmonitoring anglingandboating activity, handling nuisance-animal complaints, following up on trapping issues, monitoring ATV activity, and dealing with equipment maintenance. A complaint of a dam being built where a river flows from an area lake was followed up on. The illegal man-made dam was exacerbating issues with already high water, causing many docks on the lake to be under water. Other violations fortheweekincludedanglingwithouta license, not having a license in possession, watercraft safety equipment violations and operating without navigation lights at night.
