DNR scolds anglers' trashy behavior while ice fishing

There are too many messy anglers out there on Minnesota's frozen waters, and state conservation officers are fed up with the trashy behavior.

As the deadlines draw near for anglers to remove their fish houses for the season, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is scolding those who leave behind garbage that runs the gamut from propane tanks to pop cans to bags of human waste.

"Once again, the most common complaint dealt with while on patrol involved anglers leaving their trash behind," said conservation officer Bret Grundmeier, of Hinckley, who added that he spends many hours every ice-fishing season policing anglers and encouraging them to clean up after themselves.

"It is disappointing to find so much trash left on our lakes," Grundmeier said.

DNR spokesman Rich Sprouse said Thursday that he's aware of "a few instances of what appeared [to be] an ice-fishing season's supply of excrement."

With Minnesota's fish house removal deadlines just around the corner — March 2 in the southern part of the state and March 16 in the north — conservation officers are intensifying their monitoring of anglers' littering tendencies.

"I always tell people the area outside their fish house is not their front yard, it is public waters," said Paul Kuske, a conservation officer based in Pierz.

"Litter tarnishes nature's beauty, destroys wildlife habitats and ruins many opportunities for recreation," the DNR said in a statement.

Littering is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000, and officers also have what is called "civil citation authority," meaning that violators can be charged penalties by the pound or cubic foot of trash.

By exercising this authority, which has a lower burden of proof than criminal charges, officers can require the offending party to pay the penalty and properly dispose of the garbage.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482