Every month the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources puts out tales from the field highlighting some of the news of the weird conservation officers encounter while they are out on the job.

To view the full page of stories, visit the DNR Web site [1] and look under news releases.

Here are some of my favorites from the Dec. 28 edition; all writing is courtesy of the Minnesota DNR:

DART IN A DUCK

Conservation Officer Tricia Plautz of Henning assisted conservation officer Gary Forsberg of Fergus Falls on a complaint of a duck with a dart in his head. With the help of corn and a landing net, the conservation officers captured the duck, and removed the dart from the side of the drake mallard’s head. The duck was released and is apparently doing ok.

CAN YOU PRODUCE A FARM ANIMAL IN A FISH HOUSE?

When conservation officer Tim Collette of Longville asked an angler about his long-expired ATV registration, the man replied he didn’t need one because he was using it for agricultural purposes. Collette challenged the man to come up with a farm animal in his fish house. The man sheepishly admitted he didn’t have any with him, so a ticket was issued.

WHAT A LINE

Conservation officer Mike Shelden of Alexandria cited an angler who was fishing with too many lines. When asked why, the angler said he was “just setting the lines for proper depth.”  Shelden discovered that all the lines were down 20 feet with shiner minnows on them.

WEEDING OUT THE LITTLE FISH

Conservation officer Aaron Kahre of Minnetonka was checking anglers on Black Lake in Hennepin County when he came upon a man with two piles of sunfish on the ice. One pile had really small sunfish and the other pile contained larger sunfish. When Kahre asked the angler about the piles, he said he had to “weed out” the little fish. A few minutes later, the officer turned around just in time to see the angler stomping the smaller bluegills back into the hole with his foot. Kahre retrieved the fish and confronted the man. The angler’s excuse was that he thought he could just put the fish back that he didn’t want. Kahre explained the rules and sent the angler away with the appropriate paperwork.

WHO HAS BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?

Conservation Officer Gary Forsberg of Fergus Falls received a nuisance raccoon complaint from a Otter Tail County homeowner who said a raccoon followed the owner’s dog into the house. The raccoon took up residence in the bedroom. The homeowner spent the night on the couch after unsuccessfully attempting to capture the raccoon. Forsberg, with assistance of a DNR Wildlife employee, removed the raccoon in the morning after it was found curled up sleeping in the homeowner’s bed.

IT’S INSIDE THE HOUSE WATCHING TV

Conservation officer Tom Hemker of Winona had an interesting situation following up on a complaint of a person running a game farm without a license. When Hemker asked if there were any more animals than what were in the pens, the homeowner said there was one more pheasant inside house watching TV with his daughter.

Share your favorite stories from the lakes, trails and parks with us.

Look for more of my favorite conservation officer stories in months to come.