Keegan Kyle

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has expanded its role in combating marijuana, recording one of the sharpest upticks in drug arrests for a single law enforcement agency in recent years, newly published state figures show.

The DNR tallied fewer than two dozen drug arrests in 2010, all involving marijuana. But in 2013 and 2014, it reported more than 200 arrests.

DNR officials were unable to pinpoint a single reason for the spike, but said staffing levels, officer training and broader trends in drug use may be factors.

“DNR has not done anything different as it relates to proactive drug patrols or involvement with any drug task force,” said George Althoff, a department spokesman.

There has been no common location or circumstances surrounding the marijuana-related arrests, the DNR said. The agency targeted marijuana growing operations on public lands in 2010 and 2011, and reported a subsequent decline in those operations.

Keegan Kyle is an investigative reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. He can be reached at kkyle@gannett.com or on Twitter @keegankyle.

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