DNR Conservation Officer Reports

District 9 – Brainerd Area

CO Andrew Dirks (CCSRA) spent time checking anglers and ATV riders, and monitoring activity throughout the recreation area. A day was spent at the DNR Conservation Officer Academy as well as working aquatic invasive species. Enforcement action included recreational vehicle registration violations.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) worked sport fishing and boating safety this week. Numerous anglers and boaters were checked and compliance was great. Guida worked with other COs on an AIS detail. Newborn whitetail fawns are now being seen crossing public highways. Unfortunately, some have been struck and killed by automobile traffic. Please drive carefully.

CO Calie Kunst (Crosslake) spent time checking numerous boaters and ATV riders throughout the holiday weekend. It was a busy but overall safe weekend for the holiday celebrations in the area. Violations addressed were operating an ATV on a closed trail, no helmets on juvenile riders, PWC after-hours and taking fish without a license.

CO Chelsey Best (Pequot Lakes) participated in an AIS event in Malmo, as well as an Operation Dry Water shift. Best took enforcement action for numerous violations including registration issues, no PFDs, PWC after-hours, no helmets, and careless operation. Nuisance-wildlife calls were also handled.

District 10 – Mille Lacs Area

CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked lake activity where warmer water and the holiday weekend resulted in more recreational boats. ATV traffic was also increased with operators dealing with muddy conditions, often with passengers. There seems to be an increase of road-killed animals in the area, possibly due to deer leaving vegetation to escape insects. Some of them needed to be dispatched.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked boating, ATV, and fishing activities. Heat and rain storms hampered maximum outdoor opportunities. Fishing without license, boat registration, and PWC violations were found. Nuisance-animal calls came in as well.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) patrolled area lakes throughout the Independence Day holiday and also handled quite a few ATV complaints. Water skiers, tubers, jet skiers and ATV riders were out in full force. Several wild animal-related complaints were taken, including bears in campgrounds, abandoned fawns and wolf depredation of cattle. One local rancher had a calf killed by wolves.

CO Mikeena Mattson (Wealthwood) worked a busy Fourth of July weekend. Many people boating, fishing, and riding ATVs were contacted. Jet Ski, ATV, and bear-related complaints were followed up on. Mattson responded to a boating crash on Mille Lacs Lake.

CO Ben Karon (Pine City) spent time this week on ATV patrol around the county. Many of the area lakes were worked for boating enforcement and angling activities. Karon also spent time on miscellaneous wildlife-related complaints.

Willow River vacant.