District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the fire danger continues to be high across the Arrowhead with several additionalsmallerwildfirespoppingup inside the wilderness. Nuisance-bear complaints have peaked with many coming in nearly daily. Homeowners are encouraged to put away attractants like bird feeders, garbage, and grills even during daylight hours.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) focused on patrolling angling activity. Anglers are having mixed success chasing walleyes and trout. Smallmouth bass fishing remains outstanding. Enforcement action was taken for a multitude of angling violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) patrolled in the BWCAW with a Lake County deputy. Fishing was good for several species, and most people weren’t having any trouble catching dinner. Enforcement action included expired canoe registration and cans in the BWCAW. Problem-bear calls continue to come in, and a couple investigations are ongoing.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week primarily monitoring ATV and angling activity. Time was also spent responding to TIP and wildliferelated calls. Violations encountered included illegal operation of an ATV by a youth and operating ATVs on a state highway.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) reports the woods and waters are busy with summer activity and many folks are out camping, enjoying the BWCAW, and fishing. The area was patrolled for ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken on a variety of angling related violations.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking anglers on area lakes. Block and K9 Jet attended an outdoor-themed you event where K9 Jet showed off some of his skills. Time was also spent responding to various calls and complaints.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) reports a busy week on the water monitoring fishing activity. Most anglers reported slow going throughout
the week with very few fish caught. Several boaters opted for swimming and tubingasthetempsincreased.Kennedy took areport of asick/injured eagle with arrangements made for transport to the Raptor Center. He and a partner CO assisted local volunteers with an ATV safety class and presentation. Enforcement action for the week included failing to obtain burning permit, no PFD on watercraft, and refusing to submit water-related equipment to inspection. CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports there seems to be a positive uptick in reports from anglers. Keeper walleye have been a little difficult to come by as those too long to keep have been caught with some regularity. Expired fire extinguishers on watercraft was a common equipment deficiency noted this past week. Assistance was provided to alocal government unit for awetland filling complaint. Complaints of otter and bears being mischievous were heard. In both cases if they continue to get rewarded with food substances they will keep returning.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports fire dangerremainsextremewithadditional fires having started in the BWCA over the weekend. Bear problems continued over the week. Public access sites were visited. ATV traffic was monitored. Area forest roads were checked.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time checking anglers and monitoring boating activity this week. Angling success continues to be hit and miss. Unpermitted work within a waterway and wetlands were dealt with. Time was also spent working on equipment. CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling activity. He spent time on various lakes and found some people having success catching walleyes. Violationswereprimarilyrelated to registration and transporting fish illegally. He also spent time assisting other agencies with forest fires in the area.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked ATV and angling activity. A variety of calls were fielded, many of which related to nuisance bears. The presence of bird feeders and garbage (CoCnotinntuineudeodn cans still seems to be a common thread among those experiencing conflict with bears.
CO reports
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) time was spent working on an ATV curriculum for Academy training and additional education opportunities. He also spent time on ATV patrol throughout the surrounding area. A mixofOHM,ORV,andATVriderswere seen throughout the busy weekend. Enforcement action was taken on a few individuals, but mostly education on operating rules applied.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Anglers reported limited success. Warmer weather has significantly increased lake temperatures. Boating activity was lower than expected this week. Continuation of dry, warmweatherhaskeptwildfiredanger high. Broughten assisted with a youth ATV safety class. Broughten also fielded calls regarding ATV operation, working in public waters, and a lost person.
Aviation Section
COPilotRyanHanna(GrandRapids) worked with Wildlife staff on a pilot programusingnewtechnologytodetect migratory waterfowl on the ground. The test was positive but needs some more testing prior to implementation.
CO Pilot Charles Scott (Brainerd) completed low-level training with unit pilots and attended a Brainerd Airport Commission meeting. A night-fishing detail support flight was started prior to bad weather moving in.
CO Pilot Brianna Shaw (Brainerd) continued working with Fisheries on the 2026 open water Lake Vermillion creel survey. Shaw collected and entered data from the instantaneous counts completed throughout the week. Additional time was spent completing recurrent online training.
NR Pilot Gracie Zeller (Brainerd) flew a mission training flight learning the skills required to safely perform low-level missions. Another training flight had to be rescheduled due to thunderstorms and low clouds.
