DNR conservation officers' tales: January edition
The Minnesota DNR's Division of Enforcement publishes its "CO Tales" once a month with highlights from conservation officers around the state.
Bull in the woods
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) found the location where a big bull moose destroyed a couple of white pines with his antlers, then moved onto a poplar tree and left rub marks over six feet high. Remnants of the trees were scattered on the freshly fallen snow.
The truth is blowing in the wind
CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) received a call of an injured bear, which was possibly caught in a trap. CO Warren investigated the area and was unable to locate the bear or any tracks in the area. Later, a homeowner in the area offered a possible explanation as a black plastic bag was located stuck on a fence and blowing in the wind.
Oh, deer
CO Gary Sommers (Walker) received a call regarding a deer, which was seen near a person's deer feeder with an apparent broken leg, which the caller believed to be from being struck by a vehicle. When the officer suggested that it wasn't a good idea to feed deer so close to a highway as it could create unnatural deer movement and do more harm than good, referencing the injured deer, he was told that the six deer at that person's feeder never crossed the road and her deer wouldn't let any other deer feed at her feeder, so that was not the case in this situation.
And the violations just keep on coming
An individual who CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) knew from previous violations was observed with a cancelled driver's license and an arrest warrant. After the vehicle was stopped, it was learned that the man was in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He had also been fishing illegally as his fishing license privileges were revoked as well for violations the officer had previously encountered.
Come on fella's, think about it
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) assisted with a fish harassment case on Mille Lacs Lake. There was an argument about a fishing spot on a 152,000 acre lake.
Get off of my trail
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that a man encountered a mangy wolf on a snowmobile trail. The wolf refused to leave the trail so the man followed at a safe distance until there was a wide spot for him to pass. As he passed the wolf, it lunged at him and snapped.
