Nevada Authorities Probe Suspected Poisonings of 28 Pine Trees at Lake Tahoe

Nevada investigators are probing a series of suspected poisonings that have damaged 28 pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe, officials said. The incidents — which span reports from 2022 through 2026 — have affected trees some residents say are more than a century old and have produced an estimated $300,000 in losses.

Washoe County authorities reported that Burnt Cedar, a restricted-access, residents-only beach in Incline Village, has been the site of multiple related incidents. According to the sheriff's office, six trees were damaged in 2022, six in 2024, and 16 more were discovered this year, bringing the total at that site to 28.

Investigators first responded on July 24 after deputies detected a strong odor near a large pine and collected soil samples that matched the scent of previous tree incidents at the property. Officials returned on August 2 after additional trees were found with an unknown substance around their bases; authorities believe the latest act occurred between 11:30 a.m. on August 1 and 5:00 a.m. on August 2.

Soil samples have been sent to a laboratory to determine the chemical or substance used and whether the same agent was involved in each occurrence. In some cases, officials discovered holes drilled near the roots of the affected pines — a finding that suggests deliberate placement of a toxic material.

"We take these crimes very seriously and will utilize every available resource to identify and apprehend the person or persons responsible," the office of Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said in a statement. The office called the deliberate destruction of mature Tahoe Basin trees and the resulting environmental damage "unacceptable."

Authorities said the scale and estimated cost of the damage could result in felony charges for those responsible. No suspects have been identified or arrested to date. Investigators have urged residents and visitors with any information, suspicious activity, or video to contact the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.

Incline Village is a scenic mountain community on the Nevada–California border that has attracted wealthy homeowners in recent years — a trend that has led locals to jokingly refer to it as "Income Village." Notable homeowners reported to have purchased property in the area include tech industry figures, though officials emphasized that the investigation is focused on identifying the individuals responsible for the tree damage.