The Good Morning Truckee meeting held on March 18, 2025, focused on wildlife management and monitoring in the Tahoe Truckee area. The session included discussions on porcupine populations, elk presence, chronic wasting disease, and road mortality data for bears.

The meeting began with inquiries about porcupine populations. A representative from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) stated that porcupines are not monitored due to funding limitations, as their research primarily targets endangered species and game animals. The discussion then shifted to elk, with the representative noting that elk are rarely found in Placer and Nevada counties, except for occasional stray bulls.

A significant portion of the meeting addressed chronic wasting disease, a prion disease similar to mad cow disease. The representative clarified that it has not been detected in humans, although the FDA advises against consuming meat from infected animals. The disease spreads easily, particularly through environmental contamination.

The conversation also highlighted the issue of bear road strikes. Attendees expressed interest in obtaining consistent data on road mortality across states, emphasizing the need for public awareness regarding the number of bears killed by vehicles compared to hunting. The CDFW acknowledged the importance of this data and mentioned ongoing efforts to improve roadkill statistics, including collaboration with Caltrans for better data sharing.

The meeting concluded with the introduction of Libby Ehlers, the new wolf coordinator for Plumas and Sierra Counties. Ehlers, who has extensive experience in large mammal management, expressed enthusiasm for her role and collaboration with existing wildlife specialists.

Overall, the meeting underscored the challenges of wildlife monitoring and the importance of data collection in understanding and managing local animal populations. Future efforts will focus on enhancing data accuracy and public engagement regarding wildlife issues in the Tahoe Truckee region.