Warden Blotter: Cat window doubles as bear door in this Goldilocks version
May 23, 2013
By: Bureau of Law Enforcement
Bear in living room, homeowner in bedroom: Time to call the warden
Recent warden case reports from Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce and St. Croix counties
Warden Paul Sickman of Hudson received a call from dispatch about a bear in a house in Hudson. The homeowner left a window partially open for their cats. The bear climbed the deck where a bird feeder was located and then entered the house through the window. The homeowners encountered the bear and locked themselves in a bedroom. St Croix County Sheriff’s Department and Hudson Police and Fire responded and the bear was removed unharmed and -- with only a scratch to a dining room chair by the bear.
Warden Sickman participated in the Hudson Rod and Gun Club’s annual youth event where children come and shoot archery, .22 rifle and shotgun at 3-D targets, clays and stationary targets for fun and competition. Trophies and prizes along with guest appearances by various local personalities occurred.
Warden Wayne Flak of Menomonie was called to assist the Dunn County Sheriff’s Dept. with a boating accident. Two male subjects left a cabin in a small motor boat on the Hay River. Both subjects were somehow thrown overboard into the river. The water was high and the current fast. Both subjects swam to an island and were able to call 911. They had stripped their clothes off because the water was cold. Flak and a sheriff's deputy were able to borrow a canoe from an unoccupied cabin and get them back to their cabin where they took hot showers. The boat was retrieved nearby and it was found that no life jackets were in the boat, no registration and a loaded .22 rifle was in the boat. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Flak twice assisted the Eau Claire Police Department twice. The first was to patrol the area of the Chippewa River in Dunn County to try to locate a 19-year-old male who had drowned in Eau Claire several days before. The second was to try to locate a canoe that had capsized reportedly leaving two people in the water; however, the compliant was later found out to be false.
Warden Flak found that a local store clerk was instructing customers on how to make poison bait for nuisance wild animals. This practice is illegal and can also kill non-target species. Flak worked to correct the action; and, to contact others given this information as some were not aware it was illegal.
Warden Jim Cleven of Colfax and wildlife staff responded to a complaint from a landowner who found several dead deer on his property. It was determined the deer had died from starvation.
Warden Cleven responded to a complaint of a subject who was hunting crows and pigeons when he accidently shot his toe. Cleven found that the hunter had the muzzle of his .22 rifle pointed toward his foot when he accidently pulled the trigger. The hunter sustained a minor wound to his little toe.
Warden Brad Peterson of Pierce County investigated a road hunting complaint. Peterson found a subject that shot at a turkey from his truck and issued citations.