District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports ATV activity picked up over the week as warmer and dry weather conditions arrived. Problem-bear complaints have been increasing as bears begin to become more active with little natural food available. Residents in the area are reminded to be careful with outdoor food, garbage, and bird feeders.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) spent most of the week checking anglers and watercraft operators. He also patrolled for ATVandOHMactivity.Additionaltime was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area lakes and accesses.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week at Camp Ripley armoring handguns. Time was also spent teaching use of force. He checked anglers along the North Shore tributaries.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked spring fish run, angling, minnow- trapping activity, and the start of the ATV trail riding season. Some lakes in the Isabella area still contained lots of ice at the end of the week. Enforcement action included fishing without a license,untaggedminnowtraps,failure to transfer ATV ownership, failure to display registration, and driving after revocation on an ATV.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week attending annual training at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent doing vehicle maintenance and monitoring stream angling activity. Warmer and drier weather has brought water levels down in the local rivers, and angling success will likely improve as water temperatures begin to rise.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling and ATV activity for the week. Lake ice coverage is changing rapidly, and many lakes’ accessibility will come down to the wire for the upcoming opener. Annual training was attended. Boat owners and operators are reminded to review their registration and safety equipment before hitting the water.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking anglers in the area. Block also spent time attending in-service training.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) focused on sturgeon angling throughout the week. Anglers had a slow start with a few reports of some large sturgeon being landed. Several first-time sturgeon anglers shared experiences of their first catch. Calls were taken regarding bear lottery applications and complaints about illegal dumping. A TIP call was worked in the area as well. Enforcement action included angling without a license, watercraft registration/equipment violations, off-highway motorcycle operating violations, and unattended lines.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports working the Rainy River this past week. Anglers reported having success catching sturgeon. Time was also spent monitoring trapping activity and ATV activity throughout the area.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) heard concerns about and followed up on uncooperative-animal calls and unauthorized timber-cutting activity. There has been plenty of discussion on the topic of ice on area waterways and whether the lakes will be ice free for opener.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports handling otter catches by trappers over the week. ATV activities were monitored. Public access sites were visited as open water has brought boats back. Forest roadswere checked,equipmentworked on, and phone calls returned.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week checking crappie anglers on Lake Vermilion, along with anglers targeting suckers in area rivers. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity in the area, checking spring beaver trappers, and assisting St. Louis County with a bike rider who got themselves stranded on an area snowmobile trail.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling activity in his station. Larson spent time checking anglers spearing suckers around local rivers and streams. He also spent time checking anglers on Lake Vermilion and fielded wildlife-related complaints. A spruce top theft case continues to be worked. ATV activity has picked up with many of the local trails opening for the season.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) spent most of the week at in-service training held at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent working ATV and trapping activity as well as speaking at several local youth firearms safety classes.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time at Camp Ripley for annual spring in-service training. Additional time was spent on duty related vehicle maintenance and on ATV patrol.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, trapping, and ATV activity. High water limited suckerspearing.Broughtenresponded to a grass fire. The fire originated from a weed whip that caught on fire. Broughten also assisted with firearms safety and fielded calls regarding injured animals.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checkedanglers,patrolledstateforests, and monitored trapping activity. Questions were answered about turkey hunting, bear lottery, and nuisance bears. Training was attended, investigations were conducted, and time was spent patrolling walleye spawning areas.
COJaysonHansen(Bigfork)worked ATV, small-game, and fishing activities. He patrolled area trails and campgrounds. Numerous game and fish-related questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored OHV activity, worked the spring fish run, and instructed at in-service training this week. Enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm, no helmet, operating an OHV on a state highway, and license issues.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ATV and spring panfish fishing activity over the past week. The crappie bite is becoming very good leading up to the regular fishing opener. Enforcement action was taken foranglingwithoutalicense,operating an unregistered ATV, and operating an ATV in the main traffic lane of a roadway.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working sport fishing, boating, ATV, and turkey hunting around the area. TIP complaints were fielded and addressed as well.
CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) spent most of the week attending required training at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent working fish run activity, recreational vehicles, trapping, and wild turkey hunting. Holt worked a boatingsafetydetailontheRainyRiver. Enforcement activity involved boating and angling violations.
Aviation Section
CO Pilot Tim Gray (Bemidji) attended in-service training, prepped the Bemidji aircraft for summer flights, and assisted a local CO preparing a beaver pelt to be used for educational purposes.
CO Pilot Ryan Hanna (Grand Rapids) is working on aerial survey work with biologists from the Bemidji-area office. Biologists use aviation resources to count wildlife from the air. The survey is statewide and does not focus just on one area of the state.
CO Pilot Brianna Shaw (Brainerd) assisted CO pilots Charles Scott and Ryan Hannah in staging aircraft for maintenance. Shaw completed annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. Additional time was spent flight planning in preparation for upcoming missions.
CO Pilot Charles Scott (Brainerd) completed aircraft transition and recurrent training with Unit pilots. He also repositioned aircraft for maintenance and upcoming surveys and started spring wildlife surveys.
