8-4-2025

District 5 – Eveleth area

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports outdoor activities remained light over the week. Boater, angler, and camper numbers appear down from previous years. Fishing remains generally slow with little observed being caught. Area forest roads continue to be checked, as do water-access sites. Time was also spent assisting other DNR divisions.

CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week checking anglers and monitoring boating activity. He also monitored ATV activity and checked area forest roads. Some time was also spent on equipment maintenance and responding to wildlife-related calls.  

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling and ATV enforcement. He spent time checking anglers on Lake Vermilion and other smaller lakes in his station. Violations were primarily related to safety equipment, registration, and angling without a license. He also spent time working wolf complaints and AIS enforcement.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time assisting other DNR divisions with investigating possible lakeshore and camping violations. A nuisance-bear complaint was handled, anglers were checked on local lakes, and patrol on ATV was also completed throughout the week.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Anglers reported limited success. A few days without rain brought out boats and ATVs. Broughten also fielded calls regarding nuisance animals and a moose killed by a train. 

District 6 – Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling success appeared to slightly improve over the week as cooler weather meant more recreational activity in the Ely area. Problem-bear reports also have begun to pop up around the Arrowhead. Residents and visitors are reminded to be cautious with bird feeders and outdoor food. Violations included angling without a license in possession and failure to display current watercraft registration.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) patrolled his station this week for ATV and OHM activity. He also spent time checking anglers and watercraft operators. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area lakes.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked primarily angling, boating, and AIS enforcement this week. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, no PFDs, and transporting a watercraft with the drain plug in place. An individual was found after going off the road into a wet ditch and was subsequently arrested for DWI.