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Fish and Wildlife Commission highlights bear, mountain‑lion and Tahoe basin work
Summary
The Fish and Wildlife Commission reviewed FY24‑25 activities including outreach, a mountain‑lion white paper, bear coexistence efforts in the Tahoe Basin and funding from fines and grants. Commissioners asked for continued interagency collaboration on human–wildlife conflicts and education campaigns.
Pat Weddle, chair of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, presented the commission’s annual report to the board on Aug. 26, emphasizing outreach, education and targeted funding to respond to rising human–wildlife conflicts in the county.
“We’ve got human black bear conflict issues on the rise,” Weddle said, noting that some campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe Basin lack bear boxes and that education and interagency coordination are priorities. Commissioners highlighted work on a mountain‑lion white paper they provided to the board and described partnerships with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on monitoring and management.
Commissioners and staff described revenue sources for the commission, including court‑assessed fines and fees from enforcement actions, which are applied to community fishing derbies, educational programs and wildlife response efforts. The commission also flagged invasive species mitigation in the Lake Tahoe Basin and announced a field visit to Taylor Creek to observe human–wildlife‑conflict management in action.
Supervisors thanked the commission for work on deer and cougar issues and encouraged continued public education about not feeding wildlife. Public commenters urged careful review of development proposals in wildlife corridors (Marble Valley, Lime Rock Valley) and recommended habitat‑friendly design (culverts, buffers) to preserve movement corridors.
The board accepted the report and asked staff and the commission to provide follow‑up materials on outreach campaigns and any requests for county coordination.
