Pine trees near Lake Tahoe on the Nevada side are being intentionally poisoned in what officials believe are interconnected incidents spanning several years. Since 2022, nearly 30 pine trees, some over a century old, have been damaged at Burnt Cedar beach, a restricted-access area on the north-east shore of Lake Tahoe.
Officials reported six trees were damaged in 2022, another six in 2024, and 16 more this year. The incidents have resulted in an estimated $300,000 in losses.
The most recent cases were reported in late July and early August 2026. On July 24, deputies responded to Burnt Cedar beach after detecting a strong odor near a large pine tree. Soil samples collected had an odor consistent with previous poisonings. Officials returned on August 2 after discovering more trees with a suspicious substance around their bases.
In a statement, the Washoe County sheriff's office, led by Darin Balaam, emphasized the seriousness of the crimes: “We take these crimes very seriously and will utilize every available resource to identify and apprehend the person or persons responsible. The destruction of mature trees in the Tahoe Basin and the environmental damage caused by these deliberate acts are unacceptable.”
Authorities continue to investigate the incidents, which have raised concerns about environmental harm and the loss of mature trees in this popular tourist community on the Nevada-California border.
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