Someone has been repeatedly targeting mature pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village, Nevada, on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, with investigators documenting 28 affected trees since 2022. Six trees were damaged in 2022, another six in 2024 and 16 more were targeted in 2026. At least 10 of the trees have died, according to the Los Angeles Times, while the total estimated loss is more than $300,000. With no suspect publicly identified, the Incline Village General Improvement District and private donors have offered a combined $147,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and successful prosecution. The repeated attacks have turned the case into a years-long mystery for the Lake Tahoe community.
28 Lake Tahoe trees targeted by poisoning since 2022
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office says 28 trees have been affected across three separate periods, with investigators treating the incidents as connected. Six trees were damaged in 2022, six more in 2024 and another 16 were discovered in 2026. The latest incidents occurred on May 26, July 23 and August 2. Four affected trees were discovered in May, two more in July and another 10 in August. The trees are located around Burnt Cedar Beach, a residents-only recreation area in Incline Village. The repeated targeting of trees over several years has prompted officials to increase surveillance and investigate whether the same person or group is responsible for the incidents.
How the trees were poisoned
Investigators found evidence that several of the trees had been deliberately damaged. Holes were drilled near the roots of some trees, while substances were found around the affected areas. Soil samples were collected and sent for testing as investigators attempted to determine exactly what was used. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office has said the substance responsible for the poisoning had not been identified. IVGID previously said a substance found during the May investigation was believed to be diesel fuel, but authorities have not publicly confirmed diesel as the substance used in all 28 cases. Local reporting has also cited 72 drilled holes across the affected trees, although that figure came from a representative of Friends of Burnt Cedar Beach rather than directly from investigators.
At least 10 trees have died
The attacks have already resulted in significant damage. The Los Angeles Times reported that at least 10 of the 28 targeted trees had died. Some of the affected trees were mature specimens that had stood at the beach for decades. IVGID estimates the value of the 28 targeted trees at more than $300,000. Arborists have been assessing the damaged trees and working to determine which ones can still be saved. The loss of mature trees can have a long-term effect on the landscape because replacement trees require decades to reach a similar size. Officials have therefore treated the incidents as both a criminal investigation and an environmental concern.
Community offers $147,000 reward
The community has now put up a $147,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and successful prosecution. IVGID is contributing $25,000, while $122,000 has been pledged by private donors associated with Friends of Burnt Cedar Beach. The reward is intended to encourage anyone with information about the attacks to contact investigators. A separate $1,000 Secret Witness reward is also available for information leading to an arrest and prosecution. The main reward has a deadline of March 31, 2027. Information must ultimately lead to a successful prosecution within two years of being provided to qualify for the reward.
Police are searching for the culprit
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case under number 26-4225. Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or announced an arrest. Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity around Burnt Cedar Beach or who has information about the affected trees to come forward. The Sheriff's Office has said the estimated financial damage could support felony-level charges against whoever is responsible. Officials have also increased security around the affected area. Additional cameras have been installed to help detect further incidents and potentially identify anyone attempting to damage more trees.
Why someone may be targeting the trees
The motive remains unknown. One theory reported by local and national media is that the trees could have been targeted because they obstruct views of Lake Tahoe or affect the value of nearby properties. Some of the affected trees have been described as being positioned along sightlines toward the lake. That has prompted speculation among residents that improving views could be connected to the attacks. However, investigators have not publicly established that view improvement, property values or any other specific motive was behind the poisoning. The reason someone repeatedly targeted the trees remains part of the mystery.
Burnt Cedar Beach remains open
Despite the damage, Burnt Cedar Beach remains open to the public permitted to use the residents-only facility. IVGID has said there is no immediate threat to beachgoers from the tree-poisoning incidents. The focus is now on protecting the remaining trees while investigators try to establish exactly how the poisonings were carried out and who was responsible. The affected trees are being monitored, and arborists are assessing whether some can recover from the damage.
A mystery dating back to 2022
The investigation stretches back four years, beginning with six affected trees in 2022. Another six were targeted in 2024, followed by 16 in 2026. That pattern has left investigators examining whether the incidents form part of a deliberate campaign against trees at the same Lake Tahoe beach. With 28 trees affected, more than $300,000 in estimated damage and at least 10 trees reported dead, local officials and residents are now hoping the $147,000 reward will produce information that can break the case. For now, the person behind the attacks remains unidentified, while investigators continue examining evidence from the trees and the surrounding area.
