Lake Tahoe trees suspected of being poisoned for property views

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a series of suspected mass poisonings of mature pine trees at Burnt Cedar Beach in Incline Village, Nevada. Since 2022, investigators have documented 28 affected trees across three separate incidents. The trees, some of which are over a century old, were reportedly targeted by drilling holes near the roots and pouring toxic chemicals inside.

The incidents have caused an estimated $300,000 in damages. The beach is located within an upscale, gated community accessible only to residents and their guests. While no suspects have been identified, Lt. Chad McKinnon of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office suggested a potential motive involving property values. He stated, “My gut instinct tells me this is someone that lives nearby that is trying to improve the value of their home, whether they want to resell it soon, so they think maybe this is a way to help improve the lake view to get more money.”