Warden Blotters: Cases from far northwest, far southeast corners
From north to south, warden cases involve overturned canoe, overbagging and alligators
Racine, Kenosha and Walworth Counties
Warden Juan Gomez of Walworth County organized a youth learn to fish in Walworth County on Lake Geneva. Wardens Mike Katzenberg, John Sinclair, Jason Roberts and Kyle Drake helped to take 12 students from Badger High School fishing on Lake Geneva for two class periods.
Warden Isaac Kruse of Racine County and Warden Supervisor Jen Niemeyer received a call that a deer had broken through a business window in the city of Racine in a strip mall. The deer had broken through the window and was lying in the office space of the business. Kruse, Niemeyer and the wildlife biologist were able to trap the deer in a bathroom and tranquilize the deer for removal. The deer was transported away from the scene.
Warden Isaac Kruse assisted in an investigation was being conducted by the Kenosha Police Department regarding alligators, turtles and snakes being held in a residence that had been foreclosed on. Kruse responded to the scene to determine if the animals were native and being held illegally. Kruse and staff from the Racine Zoo established the animals were not native to Wisconsin. Kruse assisted with the removal of the animals that were taken by the Racine Zoo.
Warden Mike Hirschboeck of Racine County and Katzenberg gave boating law enforcement presentations to the Village of Twin Lakes Police Department, Silver Lake Boat Patrol and the Town of Burlington Boat Patrols for in-service and refresher courses. Hirschboeck also gave boating and hunter safety talks and attended a career day for the Waterford FFA.
Warden John Sinclair of Kenosha County checked two individuals fishing on Silver Lake in Kenosha County. They caught their daily bag limit of 25 pan fish. Beyond their daily bag limit they had 33 more pan fish. One was cited for being 33 pan fish over his daily bag limit of 25.
Warden John Sinclair and Warden Supervisor Jen Niemeyer assisted a local towing company and recovery divers in retrieving a vehicle which had gone through the ice and been abandoned in the waters of Camp Lake. An individual drove his car through the ice and failed to remove the vehicle. The individual was issued citations for failing to remove the vehicle.
Ashland and Douglas Counties
Several members of the Ashland Conservation Warden Team assisted with the May Douglas County wildfire also known as the Germann Road Fire. The wardens assisted with evacuations in the initial phases of the incident and providing other enforcement assistance as operations progressed.
Members of Ashland Law Enforcement Team participated in an aquatic invasive/VHS group check for smelters on May 10, focusing on Chequamegon Bay and Lake Superior; wardens emphasized draining all coolers, buckets and containers to prohibit transporting water away from the lake.
Warden Brad Biser of Brule was contacted by a person canoeing the Brule River reporting that two people that were canoeing were missing and it was feared that they may have drowned. They were 62 and 67 years of age. The Douglas County Sheriff Office and EMS were notified. The incident took place at the Brule DNR Ranger Station and fire control assisted with looking for the missing two people in the canoe. The canoe was found in rushing rapids over turned against a deadfall. The two people from the canoe were found in good condition.
Warden Jill Schartner attended a joint lake association meeting for Price and Perry Lakes where she explained safe boating practices handed out informational items and discussed preventing the spread of invasive species by practicing a few quick procedures each time they launch and load their boats.
Warden Schartner attended and assisted with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Tournament held in Wisconsin Rapids.
If you have information regarding any natural resource violations, please call: VIOLATION HOTLINE: 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained staff relay reported information to conservation wardens. Anyone who calls the Violation Hotline or provides information can remain anonymous.