Warden Blotter: Local fishers help wardens free trapped sturgeons
By: Bureau of Law Enforcement
Warden Blotter: Sturgeon rescue, littering and overbagging among west-central warden cases
Chippewa, Eau Claire, Trempealeau and Jackson counties
Wardens Shaun Deeney of Chippewa Falls and Randy Dunkel of Cornell received a Hotline call from a concerned citizen who observed several large lake sturgeon that were trapped in pools of water below the dam in Cornell. It appeared the river levels dropped significantly, leaving the fish stranded in shallow pools along the rock shore line. With the help of nearby fishermen, the fish were captured and safely released back into the main river channel.
Warden Dunkel worked a complaint of a deer carcass with three unborn fawns found at the end of a dead end road by a party spot. The doe appeared to have been killed and partially butchered at the location. Warden Dunkel collected evidence at the scene and the investigation is continuing.
Warden Dunkel responded to a complaint taken by the Chippewa Sheriff's Department of an ATV which had been running back and forth on a roadway near Cadott. When Dunkel encountered the suspect ATV, the rider decided to flee from Dunkel. Dunkel followed the ATV until it went up a driveway, through a gated area that was surrounded by 3 strand barbed wire fencing. The operator then fled on foot and was not located. Dunkel seized the ATV for evidence and the investigation is ongoing.
Warden Scott Thiede of Eau Claire investigated the dumping of roof shingles on a private woods road. A local handyman admitted to trespassing and the illegal disposal of the shingles removed from a structure at a nearby mobile home park. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Thiede contacted an angler below the Lake Altoona Dam that had a Blue Sucker on a rope stringer. The angler stated he had foul hooked the fish and kept the fish because he was not able to identify the species. All foul hook fish must be released, and keeping an unidentified fish can be costly. The Blue Sucker is a Wisconsin Threatened Species.
Wardens Ken Thomson of Fall Creek and Scott Thiede of Eau Claire investigated a complaint about a dog which killed two newborn fawns. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Thomson successfully investigated littering complaints where the responsible parties were identified, cited and ordered to clean up the mess, investigated a duck blind that was left on the marsh on state property and assisted water management staff with investigating two different manure run off events where local streams were impacted.
Warden Robin Barnhardt of Osseo responded to a call reporting that a Jackson County homeowner had shot a bear in self-defense when the bear climbed onto the deck of the home and became aggressive. DNR wildlife staff assisted Barnhardt in recovering the bear, which was estimated to weigh at least 400 pounds. Warden Kurt Haas of Black River Falls completed the investigation of the incident and determined the homeowner was justified in shooting the bear.
Warden Barnhardt investigated two complaints reporting that manure from farm operations in Trempealeau County was entering streams. One complaint was near Strum, and the other was near Arcadia. Both complaints were referred to DNR and Trempealeau County staff for follow-up.
Warden Kurt Haas of Black River Falls patrolled the Oxbow Pond during the fishing opener. Haas contacted two males who were fishing from shore and upon investigation, found that the fishermen had caught a daily limit of trout at a nearby pond, and then traveled to the Oxbow Pond where they caught 2 more. Enforcement action was taken.