Tahoe National Forest

Welcome to Your National Forest

The Squirrels Are Busy These Days

Jeffrey Pine Cone remnant on a stone foundation. (Photo by Phil Sexton)

Even though days remain warm, we can tell that fall is on the way. Days are shorter, nights seem cooler, and the squirrels are busy harvesting pine seeds from cones to stash for winter.

In quiet areas of the forest, you can hear the squirrels scurrying around, and every once in awhile a cone drops suddenly out of a tree after a squirrel chews through the stem. On the ground, they meticulously remove the cone bracts to get at the seeds inside. After a few minutes, only the center stalk remains, surrounded by the cast-off bracts that have been scattered about.

Volunteering on the Tahoe

Check out our current list of volunteer
opportunities in visitor services, trail
maintenance, and OHV management.

Heritage Resources Vignettes

A series of short pieces about some of the fascinating historic and prehistoric finds on the Tahoe. You'll find links to them on our Heritage Resources page.

Penny Pines Plantations

Find, explore, and learn about the 14 Penny Pines plantations on the Tahoe National Forest.