Recent warden team cases from Northeast to Southeast
Grass fire stop, boat mishaps, plane crash, wildlife assists, illegal fishing and more from northeast to southeast
Vilas, Florence and Oneida counties
Warden Pat Novesky of Three Lakes responded to a boat crash that occurred early one morning on the Three Lakes chain. The operator struck the shoreline causing serious injury to himself and the passenger. The operator is being charged with causing injury by intoxicated operation of a boat and operating a boat while intoxicated.
Warden Novesky was requested to assist the Three Lakes Police and Fire departments with a weather incident on Big Stone Lake. A waterspout had come across the lake and tossed several boats into the lake -- some of which were still on shore stations. Once it was determined that all the occupants were accounted for, efforts were made to remove fuel tanks, trash/debris and other pollutants from getting into the lake.
Warden Mike Sealander of St. Germain used the remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to assist the Vilas County Sheriff's Office with a report of a possible body in an area lake. No victim was found.
Wardens Sealander and Dave Walz assisted wildlife management staff with goose banding while the birds were flightless in July.
Warden Rich Thole of Boulder Junction and Recruit Warden Bryan Harrenstein patrolled area lakes in Vilas County assisted the Vilas County SWAT Team with tactical training exercises on Trout Lake. The wardens assisted the team with boat-to-boat contacts and tactical water-to-land contacts. Manitowish Waters Boat Patrol Officer Dan Cardinal also assisted the officers with the training exercises.
Warden Rich Thole of Boulder Junction, Kelly Crotty of Florence and Tim Price of Eagle River patrolled the Cisco Chain of Lakes on the Wisconsin/Michigan border with Michigan Conservation Officer Jason Wicklund. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license and operating an unregistered motorboat.
Warden Brad Dahlquist of Crandon gave a Trapper Education talk to students in Florence and assisted with a kids fishing outing near Laona sponsored by The Boundary Waters Musky Club and the Titletown/Packerland Chapter of Muskies Inc.
Brown, Door and Manitowoc counties
While checking for shore fishermen south of Sturgeon Bay, Warden Chris Kratcha of Sturgeon Bay and Recruit Warden Nate Hoftender observed smoke coming from a grass field on property open to the public. The wardens drove to the area and found a spreading grass fire. Warden Kratcha was able to put out the fire with his truck fire extinguishers and monitored the scene until the fire department arrived. Cause of the fire was unknown. The wardens’ observations likely prevented a widespread grass fire.
Warden Cara Kamke of Green Bay loaned lifejackets to seven people during the month of July. Kamke loaned out the lifejackets to canoeists, kayakers and fishermen who were about to launch their boat without the required number of wearable lifejackets on the boat.
Warden Andy Lundin of Green Bay assisted the Brown County Sheriff’s Office with a complaint of a whitetail fawn in a city neighborhood. Warden Lundin and Brown County Animal Control took custody of the deer and relocated it to a more suitable area.
Warden Supervisor George Protogere of Green Bay responded to a serious traffic crash involving a tanker truck carrying more than 4,000 gallons of liquid manure and a farm truck in Manitowoc County. Also on scene was the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department, the highway department and the Wisconsin State Patrol. More than 3,000 gallons of liquid manure was spilled in the ditch and required clean up. Warden Protogere documented the spill and ensured the area was properly cleaned.
Warden Kyle Lynch of Kewaunee received a complaint of an injured owl in a rural Kewaunee neighborhood. Lynch was able to locate the Great Horned Owl that appeared to have an injured wing. Lynch captured the owl and transported it to Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary for rehabilitation.
Winnebago, Calumet, Outagamie, Fond du Lac and Dodge counties
Warden Jason Higgins of Oshkosh and Deputy Warden Sam Schroeder were patrolling south of Lake Winnebago during the dark and nearly collided with a boat that was being operated on plane without displaying any lights. The operator was cited for failing to display required navigation lights. Higgins explained to the operator that if his lights went out he should have made his way slowly towards shore instead of operating on plane through a bunch of boat traffic the night of the Oshkosh fireworks display.
Wardens Jason Higgins and Recruit Warden Brandon Smith issued two citations to two separate individuals for possessing undersized flathead catfish on the Fox River in Oshkosh. The individual who was the subject of the complaint given to Higgins did not catch the flathead. Instead, the person was given the fish by another angler. That angler was also contacted and admitted to catching and keeping the fish. The subject was cited for the undersized flathead. Flathead catfish on the Winnebago System have a minimum size limit of 30 inches and anything 36 to 42 inches must be released as well.
Wardens Tom Truman of Winneconne and Recruit Warden J.J. Redemann investigated a complaint on an individual catching and keeping a flathead catfish on Lake Poygan this past winter. The investigation showed the individual kept a flathead during the closed season. Meat from the fish was seized and enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Truman and Redemann completed an investigation into individuals driving trucks and "mudding" on state lands creating damage and mud holes on the state lands. The investigation revealed all involved knew it was illegal to operate vehicles on state lands. Enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Truman and Redemann completed an investigation on an individual reported as taking turtles during the closed season in Green Bay. Upon completion of the investigation, it was found that the individual had attempted to take turtles during the closed season and without a license. It was also found that the individual was in possession of an illegal sized snapping turtle. The turtle was seized and enforcement action was taken.
Warden Michael Disher of Chilton worked aquatic invasive species (AIS) enforcement duties along the east shore of Lake Winnebago. Disher made multiple traffic stops on vehicles that were pulling boat trailers with large amounts of aquatic vegetation still attached. One vehicle operator told Disher he didn't have far to travel and he usually cleans the weeds off at home. When asked for identification, it was discovered the operator lived near Milwaukee, a significant distance away, and had a revoked driver's license. A short time later, another vehicle operator was stopped and was found to be under the influence of intoxicants. It was the operator's second offense, and an 11 year-old boy was identified in the backseat. This operator was arrested for felony OWI and transported to the Calumet County Jail. Enforcement action was taken for illegally transporting aquatic vegetation.
Wardens Ben Nadolski of Waupun, Kyle Kosin of Campbellsport, Tom Truman of Winneconne and Jason Higgins of Oshkosh responded to a call on July 4th on Lake Winneconne of a boater being thrown from their boat and the boat now operating at full throttle in circles with no one on board. The operator was safely on shore. Officers placed ropes in the water that the boat ran over which caused the boat to slow significantly. The officers kept the public at a distance until the boat stopped. The boat was then taken to shore without incident.
Warden Ben Nadolski of Waupun responded to a call of a spotted fawn that had found its way into the fenced in Ripon Dog Park but could not find its way back out. A park user had arrived early in the morning to find the gates open and his dog quickly found the fawn. The fawn had exhausted itself trying to get out. The fawn was re-located to a shady spot in the tall grass outside the park fences and the gates were then closed.
Warden Al Erickson of Fond du Lac was a guest speaker at a free seminar put on by Lake Winnebago Quality Improvement Association (LWQIA) with assistance from UW-Extension at the UW Fond du Lac Campus. The seminar was called "On your Side" and brought together representatives from the FDL County Sheriff's Department Boat Patrol, DNR and U.S. Coast Guard to discuss the different roles and jurisdictions each agency has when enforcing laws to protect the lake and the people who enjoy it.
Warden Ryan Propson of Appleton and Recruit Warden Lassila investigated a single-party fatal ATV accident that occurred outside of Appleton. Speed, operation on pavement, not wearing a helmet and alcohol were all factors in the accident. ATV's are designed for off-road operation and wearing of an approved helmet is required for some operator and encouraged for all operators.
Warden Propson and Recruit Warden Lassila investigated a complaint of a loud ATV being operated in a neighborhood. The ATV was found to be unregistered and had a loud aftermarket exhaust with no spark arrestor. All ATVs, UTVs, and three-wheelers need to be registered in Wisconsin, need to have an exhaust system equipped with a spark arrestor, and cannot emit a noise louder than 96 decibels.
Warden Supervisor April Dombrowski of Oshkosh, Wardens Jason Higgins of Oshkosh and Tom Truman of Winneconne along with Regional Warden Byron Goetsch of Green Bay, attended an Instructor Appreciation Event in Winnebago County to recognize all of the volunteer Boat, Snowmobile, ATV, Hunter Education and Trapper Education Instructors. These volunteers provide an invaluable service to the citizens of Wisconsin and have prevented countless injuries and fatalities over the years.
Waukesha, Walworth and Milwaukee counties
Wardens Kaitlin Kernosky responded with Kyle Drake and Mitch Groenier to a plane that crashed into Lake Michigan. The wardens assisted in searching for the plane and any victims.
Warden Rick Reed checked a couple of fishermen in Walworth County who did not have fishing licenses. One of the individuals had a felony warrant. The individual was arrested and turned over to the Walworth Sheriff's Office.
Wardens Matt Groppi and Doug Zeihen were checking anglers on Pewaukee Lake when they received a complaint of a fight at a home on the shoreline. The wardens assisted the Sheriff's Department with responding and identifying the responsible parties.
Warden Steve Sanidas assisted the Stone Bank Fire Department with a medical emergency during the Okauchee Tie-Up event. Warden Sanidas shuttled fire personnel from shore to the victim who was located on a boat at "Party Island." Warden Sanidas then assisted with scene security as fire personnel evaluated the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital.
If you have information regarding 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.