Refuge Officiers Stay Busy
at Tamarac
by Todd Luke
Tamarac’s rules and regulations are enforced primarily by two officers, Todd Luke and Brent Taylor. Todd Luke, as assistant refuge manager at Tamarac, has limited time available to patrol. Brent Taylor is stationed at the Detroit Lakes Wetland Office and is the only full-time officer in NW Minnesota. His duties can take him as far north as Agassiz NWR near Thief River Falls.
Over the summer these officers handled several incidents. One such incident involved a subject who was issued a Violation Notice for driving with a revoked driver’s license on County Highway 26.
In addition, two of the passengers possessed outstanding warrants and were arrested and later transferred to Becker County authorities. Two Violation Notices were issued for trespass into the wildlife sanctuary near Dry Lake. Other incidents investigated or interdicted included an abandoned vehicle, gate vandalism, theft of a historical structure, firearm possession, and dumping. In addition, three incidents of filling and ditching were documented on a Clearwater County Wetland Easement and in the re-compliance stage.
June incidents included illegal swimming, theft of showy lady slipper, and vandalism to government property. An uninsured driver was apprehended on the Blackbird Auto tour. Two of the vehicle’s passengers were also found in violation of the state’s open container law. All three violations were transferred to Becker County authorities. Easement violations were the focus during the month of July and included grazing trespass, farming encroachment, and storage of personal property on two Clearwater County FmHA Conservtion Easement tracts, which are currently being remediated.
August incidents included theft of government property, illegal camping, and sanctuary trespass.
(Regulations) |
