District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) patrolled areas of the BWCA focusing on fishing and boating safety enforcement. The open portion was found to be very busy and fishing success was good. Violations included: angling without a license in possession, and failure to display current watercraft registration.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) spent most of his week checking fishermen and watercraft operators. He also patrolled for ATV activity on local trails. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance at area public water accesses.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked anglers on area lakes and rivers. ATV and AIS activity was monitored in the Superior National Forest. The officer responded to ATV and nuisance animal complaints.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports that anglers fishing on Lake Superior in the Grand Marais area are showingvaryingsignsofsuccess.Water temperatures have been inconsistent, with a lot of anglers complaining about the cold surface temperatures. Berry picking is peak right now with lots of pickers hitting the forest. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a good deal of ATV and angling enforcement this week. Several calls were handled, including a release of non-native, pet birds. Enforcement action included a group that took an overlimit of walleyes from a BWCAW lake, transporting fish without skin for identification, extra line, juvenile ATV violations, operating ATVs on a state highway, and no ATV safety certificate.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week primarily monitoring ATV and angling activity. Time was spent working with other officers patrolling ATV trails near Pine County, and time was also spent investigating boat and water complaints.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling, ATV, and boating enforcement for the week. Preparations were made for the upcoming Bear season. Anglers reported mixed success on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken on avarietyofanglingandboatingrelated violations.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Paul Kennedy (Int’l Falls #1) monitored angling and ATV activity this week. ATIP complaint was followed up on. Permits were issued for problem beaver in the area. Kennedy also attended the Int’l Falls National Night Out event with partner agencies. He assisted local agencies with a report of several fires caused by a dragging boat trailer alongthehighway.Enforcementaction was taken for various ATV violations.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) Took several calls with questions about the upcoming falls seasons. He assisted with duties related to the fires around Ely.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports fielding comments on the ELS system and surplus bear lottery as perspective hunters continue waiting for an opportunity for a license. Area lakes and public access sites were checked. Area activity continues to be diminished from years past. Local forest roads were monitored.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week monitoring ATV activity, assisting the Sheriff’s Office on calls, monitoring forest roads, checking anglers and monitoring boating activity. Time was also spent on online training, and dealing with the theft of trees from Superior National Forest. A structure fire on an Island on Lake Vermilion was responded to, where assistance was given to Cook Fire and St Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling, ATV, and boating enforcement. Larson spent time checking various lakes with anglers having mixed success. Violations were related to several over limits of walleye, boat registration,boatingsafetyequipment, ATV registration, transport fish with noskinpatch,andminorsinpossession of alcohol.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked ATV, boating, and angling activity. In addition, time was spent conducting in-service training and qualifications at Camp Ripley. Violations encountered included taking fish withoutananglinglicense,illegalPWC wash/wake violations, and ATV speed.
