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District 1 counties of service: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon.
CO Ethen Mapes received a complaint of snowmobilers failing to stop at stop signs and narrowly missing plow trucks at the Porcupine Mountain’s Wilderness State Park. CO Mapes worked a stationary patrol near a regularly ran stop sign and made several stops. CO Mapes issued two civil infractions for careless operation, two warnings for failure to display registrations, and several warnings for operational violations.
COs Byron Parks, Brian Lasanen, Ethen Mapes, Pete Shambaugh, and Sgt. Marc Pomroy conducted a snowmobile patrol in northern Houghton County. The COs worked an area targeting snowmobile safety violations, registration, trail permit compliance, along with a focus on sound enforcement. One citation was issued for failing to attach trail permit and verbal warnings were issued to three for failing to attach trail permit, two fail to display registration decals, two unregistered snowmobiles, and exceeding noise emission levels. After the snowmobile patrol, the COs assisted the Houghton and Keweenaw County Sheriff's Department with the start of the Copper Dog, a dog sled race held in the Keweenaw.
CO Ethen Mapes responded to a lost skier in the Porcupine Mountains. The report stated that the cross-country skier had ventured off-trail and had been skiing for three hours in an unmarked area. Negaunee Regional Dispatch was able to give confident GPS coordinates from the cell phone call made by the skier. CO Mapes and an Ontonagon County sheriff’s deputy rode snowmobiles through the back country to the skier’s location and were able to find him shortly after dark. The lost skier was then returned to his vehicle. In a post action interview, the skier stated that when he became lost, he thought he could travel north and eventually cross a road, however the steep terrain, darkness, and muscle cramping rendered him in need of help.
COs Alex VanWagner, Zach Painter, Ethen Mapes, Pete Shambaugh, and Ray Gagnon, along with US Forest Service officers, conducted a Saturday group snowmobile patrol in areas of Gogebic, Ontonagon, and Iron Counties. Over 500 snowmobiles were contacted throughout the day. Seventeen citations were issued for failing to obtain trail permits, registration violations, and careless operation. Approximately 60 verbal warnings were issued as well.
While conducting a commercial processor inspection in Menominee County, CO Steve Sajtar located an 8-point antlered deer with a suspicious kill tag attached to the antlers. CO Sajtar conducted several interviews and submitted a report to the Menominee County Prosecutor’s Office requesting charges for the suspect. The prosecutor’s office authorized multiple charges, and a misdemeanor arrest warrant was issued for the suspect. Once receiving the signed warrant, CO Sajtar served the suspect with the warrant. The suspect was charged with taking an antlered deer without a license, using another person’s hunting license, and possessing a deer without a valid kill tag attached.
CO Phil Helminen was on patrol, after a snowstorm, when he located an elderly lady who had gotten her vehicle stuck in the snow on the roadway and was trying to shovel her vehicle out of the snow. CO Helminen stopped and was able to shovel the snow out from under her vehicle so she could get moving again. The lady was very appreciative.
COs Anna Viau and Lisa Taube instructed Wilderness Self Defense at the winter Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop in Big Bay. Over 50 participants from all over the country attended the weekend workshop, which offered many different classes in various outdoor activities.
COs Zach Painter, Alex VanWagner, Phil Helminen, and Sgt. Brian Bacon conducted a group snowmobile patrol during a busy weekend in Iron County. The COs had over 150 snowmobile contacts. They issued 15 citations and 24 warnings for violations including failure to obtain trail permit, expired registration, failure to display registration decal, and failure to attach trail permit.
COs Cody Smith, Jackson Kelly and John Kamps assisted at the winter Becoming an Outdoors Woman event. Once there, the COs assisted the women in learning how to ice fish and catch perch, pike, and walleye. After the day of ice fishing, CO Smith gave a fish cleaning demonstration followed by a fish cooking demonstration.
COs Jeremy Sergey and Jackson Kelly were patrolling Trail 14 near a busy boating access site road crossing when two snowmobiles blew through a stop sign. The COs stopped the snowmobiles and contacted the operators. One operator had a revoked driver’s license as well as active warrants out of Ohio. Enforcement action was taken.
District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft.
CO Steve Butzin worked during a winter storm in Delta County. Sleet and snowfall made travel difficult for many motorists with several vehicles including a semi-truck having gone into the ditch. CO Butzin assisted with policing these accidents and completed the required accident reports.
CO Steve Butzin responded to a call of several snowmobilers who had gone through the ice on Big Bay de Noc near Round Island. Several agencies responded with air boats equipped to respond to the thin ice in this area. Masonville Fire and the Delta County sheriff were able to use the airboats to assist these individuals back to shore, no life-threatening injuries were reported.
CO Brandon Maki was checking ice anglers on Munising Bay when he approached a shack and contacted a couple fishing. CO Maki conversed with them briefly while the man automatically pulled out his fishing license and displayed it. The couple continued to fish until CO Maki asked to see the woman’s fishing license. She claimed that she did not have one and was hoping not to get checked by a CO. CO Maki issued a citation for fishing without a license.
Over the course of two days, CO Brandon Maki, along with CO Andrea Dani and a US Forest Service officer, worked a snowmobile trail crossing that crosses a motor vehicle roadway that is popular in the area for walking dogs. The officers wrote 14 citations for violations which mostly consisted of careless operation and a few registration and trail permit violations. Locals walking their dogs and crossing through in their vehicles were grateful for the law enforcement presence and told stories of close calls in the past with snowmobiles at this intersection.
Sgt. Robert Freeborn and COs Brandon Maki and Andrea Dani held a group patrol near Munising. Three riders were issued citations for careless operation of snowmobiles after fully disregarding a stop sign at a trail intersection.
While on patrol in Delta County, CO Matthew Bowser assisted a Delta County sheriff’s deputy on a traffic stop. A K9 unit arrived and indicated that there were illicit narcotics in the vehicle. While another officer performed a search of the passenger, CO Bowser observed the passenger perform a slight hand movement and move a small object from their left sleeve to their right sleeve to avoid being found by the searching officer. The CO ordered the suspect to drop the item. The suspect attempted to put the item in their mouth to swallow it, but the CO wrestled it out of their hands. After CO Bowser had control over the small container the suspect admitted that it contained cocaine. The suspect was taken into custody by Escanaba Public Safety and transported to the local jail.
CO Alex French, along with the Luce County Sheriff’s Department, investigated a snowmobile complaint in northern Luce County. It was determined the individual attempted to cross an open body water with a snowmobile and had failed. A local towing company was able to remove the half-submerged snowmobile. CO French cited the operator with careless operation of a snowmobile.
CO Scott Pankow checked an angler trying his luck in the Les Cheneaux Islands area. When asked to produce his fishing license the individual stated, “I think I have one?” CO Pankow confirmed with Station 20 that the individual did not have a valid fishing license. A citation was issued for fishing without a license.
District 3 counties of service: Alpena, Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, Presque Isle.
COs Tyler Owen and Tom Oberg gave a presentation to interested community members at the Otsego County Library. The COs answered questions and gave insight into the duties of a CO and what functions the DNR does.
COs Tyler Owen and Nico Luna conducted a snowmobile patrol and issued multiple tickets for failure to stop at stop signs. They also issued tickets for various other violations such as unregistered snowmobiles and operation of a snowmobile without a trail permit. warnings were given as well.
COs Matt Theunick and Jack Gorno were patrolling Burt Lake checking ice fishing activity. While checking one group of anglers, it was found that one of the anglers was fishing with more than three lines. A ticket was issued for fishing too many lines. During the same patrol, several warnings were given to multiple anglers for not having their fishing license on their person.
COs Jon Sheppard and Evan White were patrolling Alpena County when the weather turned to heavy snowfall and road conditions deteriorated quickly. They came upon a vehicle in a ditch on a curve in the roadway. The COs stayed on scene until a tow truck was able to safely remove the vehicle from the ditch. There were no injuries.
CO Sidney LaLonde submitted a report on an illegal deer from the 2025 season. After an interview, the subject admitted to purchasing an antlered tag after shooting a 6-point whitetail deer.
District 4 counties of service: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford.
COs Cameron Wright and Ryan Jager were patrolling in a jet boat on the Muskegon River in Newaygo County when they received a report that subjects near Croton Dam were snagging walleyes. The COs patrolled over to the dam and contacted the suspects who had three walleyes in their possession. Enforcement action was taken to address the snagged walleyes as well as multiple marine violations of an unregistered vessel, failing to display registration, and life jacket violations.
CO Logan Turner was on patrol in Oceana County when a call came out about large amounts of black smoke coming across the highway. Upon arrival, it was found that large amounts of used motor oil was being burned underneath a pile of brush. Through talking with local officers, CO Turner learned that it was suspected that an estimated 1,000 gallons of used motor oil was burned last year. The suspect was cited for unlawful disposal of waste.
CO Josh Reed and Sgt. Ben Shively backed up a Mecosta County deputy on a domestic violence call on US-131. Both units arrived at the parked truck on the shoulder of the expressway. They contacted a 15-year-old who was having a mental episode and had attempted to injure his father while he was driving. The youth was transported to the hospital for an evaluation and treatment.
CO Josiah Killingbeck was on patrol when he observed a vehicle sideways in the roadway. CO Killingbeck contacted the driver who was stuck. CO Killingbeck determined the operator had a revoked driver’s license and several warrants for his arrest. CO Killingbeck advised and released the individual for the warrants and issued a citation for operating while revoked.CO Josiah Killingbeck responded with the Lake County Sheriff's Office to a report of a fight in progress between several subjects. CO Killingbeck arrived shortly after a deputy. Upon exiting his patrol truck, CO Killingbeck could hear people actively fighting inside the residence. Upon entering the residence, CO Killingbeck observed the deputy fighting with a suspect on the ground, however a male subject was blocking the doorway from CO Killingbeck being able to get to the deputy. The person refused to move and when CO Killingbeck tried to move the subject, the subject resisted. CO Killingbeck was eventually able to subdue the subject and assist the deputy who was still trying to get the original suspect into custody. Several subjects were lodged in the Lake County Jail on a variety of charges.
CO Joshua Wright observed tip-ups set on a remote lake in Wexford County with no anglers around. A shanty was in proximity to the tip-ups. CO Wright made his way to the shanty, out of sight of the windows, and announced himself as a conservation officer. The man replied that he was “Good” when asked how he was doing, but quickly stated, “You got me, I have an extra line out.” It was confirmed that he had set two tip-ups as well jigging with two rods in two separate holes within the shanty. A citation was issued for fishing with too many lines.
CO Will Kinney and Sgt. Amanda Weaver were patrolling Benzie County for ice fishing activity. The COs stopped at Loon Lake in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park where they observed an ice fishing shanty out in front of the boat launch. The COs observed five tip-ups from shore when walking out to contact the anglers. While speaking with them, it was discovered they both were jigging for fish and in possession of additional fishing lines. The COs brought the over-limit of fishing lines to their attention. The one angler realized his error and took responsibility for having the extra line. The angler was cited for fishing with too many lines.
CO Will Kinney and Sgt. Amanda Weaver were patrolling Benzie County. The COs received a RAP complaint of an angler keeping largemouth bass out of season. The complainant told the COs that he observed the angler catch the bass, photograph it, then proceed to put the fish by his ice fishing sled. The COs arrived at the lake shortly after receiving the complaint. As the COs were walking onto the ice, they observed an angler walk over to a fish on the ice and kick it out of sight. The angler then pulled his fishing sled over top of the fish to hide it. Upon contact, the angler did not disclose anything other than catching several small perch. Upon further inquiry, the angler admitted to catching several largemouth bass. CO Kinney walked with the individual over to the sled where three bass were discovered hiding underneath. The angler was cited for possessing largemouth bass out of season and will be subject to restitution for the violation.
District 5 counties of service: Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon.
COs Breanna Garrett, Jeremy Cantrell, Cheyanna Langworthy, and Sgt. Jon Wood conducted a patrol on Lake Missaukee during the Silent Observer snowmobile radar run event. They located a fishing shanty with lines in the water but no angler present. After waiting several minutes and finding no fresh tracks due to glare ice conditions, they continued their patrol. About an hour later, the angler was seen returning to the shanty. Sgt. Wood made contact, and the angler initially claimed he had only stepped away for a “really short time.” When advised that the COs had been looking for him much longer, he admitted he had been gone for about an hour and a half. A ticket was issued for leaving fishing lines unattended.
CO Cheyanna Langworthy received a complaint about anglers walking through private property to access a local lake in Clare County. The posted signs had fallen and were no longer visible. CO Langworthy contacted the anglers and explained that they had crossed private property. She checked each angler for a valid 2025 fishing license and discovered that one had failed to purchase one. A citation was issued for failing to exhibit a fishing license. CO Langworthy also issued warnings for trespassing and advised them on how to legally access the lake in the future.
COs Kevin Bunce and Jacob Hamilton were patrolling Osceola County when they observed an ORV operating on a closed road. A stop was conducted and contact was made with the operator. While speaking with him, the COs noticed an uncased firearm hanging from the roof of the ORV. CO Hamilton asked what the firearm was for and whether it was loaded. The operator stated it was a .410 shotgun he used on the farm and that it was loaded. The operator was also found to be in possession of a concealed pistol that to which he failed to disclose to the COs that he was a concealed pistol license (CPL) holder in good standing. Further, he did not have the respective license on his person which is required by law. A citation was issued for possessing an uncased and loaded firearm in an ORV. Multiple written warnings were issued for operating on a public highway, failing to license the ORV, and for the CPL violations.
CO Joshua Jobin was patrolling the Sterling Truck Trails when Arenac County Dispatch issued a be on the lookout for a vehicle driven by a subject reportedly holding someone at knifepoint. The victim was able to text 911 from the Sterling Shell gas station requesting help. CO Jobin and several other agencies responded quickly and detained the suspect. The suspect had forced the driver at knifepoint to drive from the Upper Peninsula toward Florida. CO Jobin searched the vehicle and located a large, unsheathed knife behind the passenger seat, along with another large knife. The MSP arrested the suspect for felonious assault and kidnapping. The driver was released unharmed.
District 5 COs participated in a group patrol focused on the DNR Ride Right campaign, emphasizing snowmobile and ORV enforcement. The campaign highlights winter and off-road safety, including riding on the right side of the trail, operating at a safe speed, and riding sober. The COs patrolled high traffic areas and a historic snowmobile show, providing public education and Ride Right focused enforcement. The Wardens television show participated in the patrol, documenting CO activity.
While patrolling the Mio area of Oscoda County, COs Nico Luna and Casey Pullum encountered an individual fishing under the Mio Dam. After requesting his information and running him through LEIN, it was discovered that he had an active misdemeanor warrant. The individual was arrested and lodged at the Oscoda County Jail.
District 6 counties of service: Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola.
CO Cody Simmons was patrolling Huron County when he encountered a group of coyote hunters. One hunter was in their vehicle watching a field when CO Simmons checked for their license and checked their firearms. CO Simmons found that the hunter had a loaded shotgun on the passenger seat in a hard case. The hunter was cited for possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
While conducting a foot patrol in the Edmore State Game Area, CO Mike Haas heard small caliber rifle shots very close by and located a subject in camouflage walking through the woods with a rifle. The CO had to walk around a large swamp area to contact the hunter and eventually met at the parking lot. The hunter was sitting in his truck watching videos on his phone when CO Haas walked up and contacted him. The subject had a .22 rifle sitting on the seat next to him and admitted that he did not have a gun case and only drove a few miles with the uncased rifle. He told the CO that he had shot at several rabbits but did not recover any of them. CO Haas asked to see the hunter’s hunting license and the subject admitted that he hadn’t had a hunting license since 2019. A citation and warnings were issued for possessing an uncased firearm in a motor vehicle, small game hunting without a license, and failing to wear hunter orange
While checking activity on a small lake in Montcalm County, CO Mike Haas witnessed subjects cutting trees and logs at a DNR access site. The CO informed the group that cutting wood at the boat launch was prohibited unless the proper permits were first obtained. A citation was issued for removing forest products without a permit.
CO Michael Lator received a complaint about an individual in the Maple River State Game Area who was maintaining an illegal shooting range and had cut down several trees to make shooting lanes on state land. The CO, along with CO Adam Schiller, investigated the area in question and located multiple steel plate targets in a public field bordering a private residence. The COs also noted multiple shooting lanes cut through the tall grass field and a tree that had several branches cut from it in front of a deer blind that was on the private property. The COs contacted the owner of the private property who admitted to cutting shooting lanes and leaving the steel targets on state land. The individual was cited for cutting trees and destroying vegetation on state lands. A warning was given for the litter.
District 7 counties of service: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St Joseph, Van Buren.
COs from Ottawa and Kent Counties had been monitoring what appeared to be a homeless camp established on the frozen surface of a drainage under the roadway within a large culvert in the Bass River Recreation Area. During the investigation, the COs found large amounts of litter and personal items in the area, but there was no way to locate or identify the subjects responsible. After a couple months, CO BJ Goulette observed a snowmobile parked along the roadway near the location. CO Goulette contacted the man who grew up in the area and had recently moved back to the area and thought it would be fun to build forts and camp like he did when he was a kid. Unfortunately, the weather had turned warm, and all the subjects’ belongings had broken through the thin ice. While the subject was recovering his belongings, CO Goulette noticed the snowmobile had an expired registration and was lacking a trail permit. CO Goulette helped the man remove his belongings and issued him a citation for the snowmobile violations.
CO Casey Varriale received an RAP complaint from a subject stating they witnessed an individual snagging steelhead at the fish ladder at the 6th Street Dam in Kent County. CO Varriale responded and observed the angler along with a second subject. CO Varriale contacted the individuals and discovered they were in possession of six steelhead. During the investigation, it was determined the fish were snagged and kept despite being foul hooked. CO Varriale wrote a citation and seized the fish illegally caught.
District 8 counties of service: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Shiawassee.
CO Jeremy Woods was checking Pine Lake for angler activity when he observed a truck in the back corner of the parking lot of the access site. Knowing that people like to do nefarious things at this access site, CO Woods investigated. Upon making contact, the driver rolled down his window and a cloud of marijuana smoke escaped from the vehicle and the driver admitted to having smoked. All occupants of the vehicle were under the age of 21. A combination of tickets and warnings were issued, and the occupants were not allowed to drive home due to marijuana consumption, so they called for a ride home.
CO Cullen Knoblauch investigated an anonymous tip called in about a subject who killed several deer without purchasing hunting licenses during the 2025 season. The tipster also reported the suspect was in possession of some Canada geese that he took from a nest and was raising in a pen at the subject’s residence. CO Knoblauch checked licensing and determined that the subject only purchased a single deer license early in October and never completed any harvest report. CO Knoblauch went to the subject’s residence to speak with him, but he wasn’t home. While in the driveway, CO Knoblauch observed a few Canada geese in a pen along the subject’s driveway. CO Knoblauch attempted contact with the subject a few more times before finally determining the subject was home. CO Knoblauch responded back to the subject’s residence to interview him. The subject confessed to raising four Canada geese for nearly a year in a pen in his yard without any permit. The subject also confessed to killing four antlered deer and one antlerless deer during the 2025 season. The subject stated he killed two 4-point antlered deer, and two 8-point antlered deer and one doe. The Canada geese were released back to the wild. A report will be forwarded to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for charges.
COs Marc Mankowski and Nick Thornton responded to a tip regarding an individual shooting deer that enter a large fenced in solar field. CO Mankowski located several antlered deer heads in a tub at the location as CO Thornton located the primary suspect. The suspect had two loaded and uncased firearms in his vehicle, however, denied shooting any deer. The suspect eventually admitted the deer heads located by CO Mankowski were his, however, they died from running into the solar field fencing and it’s his responsibility to remove the dead deer from the facility. The individual was cited for possessing loaded firearms in a motor vehicle and further investigation is being conducted into the conflict with deer and the large solar fields.
District 9 counties of service: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair.
CO Lisa Taube participated as an instructor at the Becoming an Outdoors Woman winter weekend event in Big Bay. Despite winter storm warnings and periodic closures of the Mackinac Bridge, 55 women showed up for the 2.5-day event sponsored by the DNR. All participants and instructors had a fantastic time, helping women gain confidence, conquer fears, try new outdoor activities, and build lasting relationships.
While checking ice anglers on the shoreline of Lake St Clair, COs Zack Cardinal, Kris Kiel, and Brad Silorey checked an angler who seemed to have a rather full bucket. Upon asking the angler how many he had, he stated, “Well Officer, I might be a little over, but, if need be, I can walk them back out and put them back.” CO Cardinal counted the perch and found 17 yellow perch over the legal limit. The angler received a misdemeanor citation for the over-limit of yellow perch.
CO Cody Bourgeois conducted surveillance of a group of ice anglers fishing a recent “hot spot” on Lake St. Clair. The CO was able to identify a well-known subject with prior violations on his record for taking over-limits of fish. The subject was observed catching many yellow perch over the course of a few hours. When the subject left the area, he failed to count his fish and was observed struggling to carry his bucket for over a mile walk back towards shore. When the subject arrived at the seawall, COs Kris Kiel, Zack Cardinal, and Brad Silorey all converged and made contact. When asked to hand his bucket up to the top of the seawall, the subject could barely pick it up stated that he was “over.” After counting all the yellow perch in his bucket, it was determined that the subject was right; he had 89, 64 over the limit. The fish and equipment were seized, and a report will be submitted to the prosecutor.
CO Joseph Deppen was on a group patrol with COs Kris Kiel and Brad Silorey. CO Deppen checked one angler who said he had about 15 perch. During the check it was discovered that he had an over-limit of perch. The angler was cited for his over-limit of perch.
District 10 counties of service: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne.
CO Andrew Werth conducted a fish patrol near the Brownstown Creek in Gibraltar. The CO witnessed a truck that he saw a few days prior, parked in the parking area. The CO knew that the registered owner had a valid 2025 fishing license but went and contacted the angler just to see how the bite was with the warm weather. The angler had quite a few perch on the ice and the CO asked the angler if he had any more in his buckets. The angler said there are a few more in a bag in his bucket but there is no way he has over 25. The CO found the bag of freshly caught perch buried at the bottom of a bucket and dumped the fish out onto the ice. In total, between the perch in the bag and the perch on the ice, the angler had 30 perch, five over his allotted legal limit. The angler stated he was going to throw the little perch back later; however, a vast majority of the perch the angler had on the ice were already dead and were a part of his limit. The CO seized the angler’s five biggest perch, and the angler received a citation for take/possessing over-limit of yellow perch. The CO allowed the angler to keep his allotted 25 yellow perch.
COs Eric Smither and Andrew Monnich received a call in the south part of Lenawee County at the end of shift. The call was that an out of state group of coyote hunters were in Michigan shooting coyotes from their vehicles from the road. The COs went to the area and contacted a vehicle just north of the Ohio / Michigan line. Upon contact, the COs observed several uncased firearms in the vehicle. While checking the firearms three of the four were found to be loaded. The driver and passenger were both issued citations for possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
During a recent shift at Belle Isle, CO Zach Adams issued five citations for speeding, driving while license suspended, and no insurance. Additionally, during a traffic stop, CO Adams ran a file on a driver who was driving with a suspended license and found out that he had a felony warrant for his arrest from the 3rd Circuit Court. CO Adams arrested the man and brought him to the Wayne County Jail for booking.
Great Lakes Enforcement Unit (GLEU)
Several GLEU officers conducted a group AIS saturation patrol in the Detroit Metro area. Numerous live fish markets, pet shops and fish wholesalers were inspected, with live red swamp crayfish being seized at one of the pet shops. Officers also coordinated patrols with USFWS staff at Detroit Metro Airport and coordinated activities and intelligence-sharing with NOAA law enforcement. Follow up is being conducted to investigate the wholesaler that supplied the illegal aquatic invasive species.
Cpl. Jon Busken inspected multiple bait dealers in Barry, Calhoun and Kalamazoo Counties. Several warnings were given as well as guidance on how to renew their bait dealer licenses.
Cpls. Brett DeLonge and Tom Peterson participated in a District 1 patrol for sport angler activity on Keweenaw Bay.
Cpl. Brett DeLonge assisted Wildlife Division staff in Marquette with attempting to dispatch a severely injured deer in a busy residential area. The deer was finally dispatched safely and removed from the area.
Cpl. Brett DeLonge took a complaint about coyotes frequenting a wooded area near a housing complex where several young children live. Cpl. DeLonge investigated the area and observed nothing concerning to the safety of the children. The complainant’s information was forwarded to Wildlife Division for any needed follow-up.
Cpl. Chris Lynch received a call from a local police department about a video they obtained from a concerned citizen. The video showed a “cougar” on a home surveillance camera in a backyard. Upon examining the video, it was determined the cat was a feral or loose housecat.
Cpl. Brett Delonge and 2nd Lt. Kevin Postma worked with Sgt. Bob Hobkirk and Sgt. Seth Rhodea from D6 utilizing an LED airboat and remotely operated vehicle to search for a missing NMU student last seen walking onto the ice in Marquette. Roughly a half dozen deployments of the ROV were completed with clear bottom images; However, the individual was not located and is still missing.
Cpl. Tom Peterson patrolled Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, and Ontonagon counties looking for commercial and recreational anglers. Activity was low due to deteriorating ice conditions caused by a strong east wind that broke up much of the fishable ice.
Cpl. Tom Peterson assisted Houghton and Ontonagon counties with a snowmobile personal injury accident that took place on powerlines off the Bill Nichols Trail. The rider sustained lacerations to the face and probable concussion, losing consciousness before first responders could reach him. When he was reached, he was alert and responsive. Cpl. Peterson assisted by providing lights and directions to the patient’s location for the EMS/ Paramedics.
Cpl. Todd Sumbera received a complaint about a possible net set in Muskie Bay near Cedarville over the weekend. Cpl. Sumbera responded to the area of the complaint and discovered that an angler was using wooden stakes to mark his holes drilled for tip ups, and no netting activity was observed.
