The somewhat elusive creatures of Lake Tahoe’s forests and lake are what make this place so unique, which is why it’s always a special experience to see a native animal in its natural element. From the 200-plus species of birds to the 60-plus mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, here are some of my favorite animals I’ve spotted around the basin:
Black Bears
As I wrote in the Emerald Bay chapter of newly released Moon Guides’ Best of California State Parks, black bears are the most talked about animal in Tahoe. Everyone comes here wanting to see a black bear. However, not all of them are black— they can be tan, brown, or cinnamon. And while seeing a lumbering bear in the wild is special, human/bear interactions can end badly for the bear. Black bears have a strong sense of smell, using their sharp noses to smell food from miles away. Couple that with their human-grade eyesight and hearing, and these opportunistic omnivores have learned how to get into trash cans, coolers, garages, homes, and open car doors in search of food. Even though Tahoe bears have a diet that is 85 percent plant-based, if they have access to human food then they can double the weight of a normal bear on a nature-based diet. (Beloved Tahoe bear Hank the Tank was well over 600 pounds.) Bears are extremely smart, too, and they remember where they found a bunch of garbage, beer in a cooler, or snacks left in the car, and will keep coming back for more. They can be very destructive, ripping apart doors or whatever gets in the way of their meal. That’s why it’s always keep food or garbage properly stored in a bearproof locker— even if bears aren’t around, crows, Stellar’s jays, and raccoons can make a mess out of trash bins as well.
Squirrels
Not to be confused with the cute chickadee birds commonly found on the East Shore of Tahoe, Chickaree squirrels are rambunctious territorial animals who aren’t afraid to let you know if you’re getting too close. They’re usually chasing each other up and down the Douglas firs, ponderosas, and sugar pines, chattering and slapping their paws on the tree bark sometimes. Their favorite treats are the seeds out of coniferous pinecones—but be careful during the fall when it’s foraging season, as they will drop up to 40 pinecones out of a tree in five minutes (and then start eating them like a corn on the cob before caching them away for winter). The Chickaree is identifiable by its dark brown/gray back, silver-tipped bushy dark tail, and beige body. John Muir called the Douglas squirrel/Chickaree “by far the most interesting and influential of the California Sciuridæ.”
However, there are a few other common squirrel species in the Tahoe area, such as the gray squirrels with bushy tails as long as their bodies. Chipmunks, ground squirrels, and golden-mantled ground squirrels are here, too, which people always mistake for chipmunks because of the black stripes down their backs (but what differentiates them is their bigger body and pure golden head).
Bald Eagles
Thanks to bald eagles being added to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the majestic national bird has returned in spades to Lake Tahoe. A few years ago, the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science reported a record number of eagles in 2021…a whopping 42 raptors, with most of them being on Tahoe’s West Shore. Considering bald eagles are most likely found near large lakes and tall trees, it makes sense that they would nest, mate, and hunt near Big Blue.
Bald eagles have brown bodies; white heads and tails; bright orange beaks and legs; and a two-meter wingspan, the second largest of a raptor. They feed on fish, carrion, reptiles, and small mammals. A few bald eagle nests have been spotted at Eagle Point, D.L. Bliss, and other parts of Rubicon Bay; it’s easiest to see them by boat going into Emerald Bay in the winter months.
Lucky sightings:
People have spotted the adorably faced Pacific martens and even the endangered fox has made a re-appearance in Tahoe, but the animals I’ve seen that always stop me in my tracks in Tahoe are:
Yellow-bellied marmots
Popping out between the granite rocks on the top of mountain peaks such as Mt. Tallac and Mt. Rose is another fun cute little mammal you may spot, the yellow-bellied marmot. With its beaver-like face and chubby body, it spends most of the year sleeping in the boulders but may make an appearance if it sniffs out a snack.
Coyotes
Usually traveling alone or in pairs, coyotes are the “clean-up crew” of the Tahoe wildlife population, hunting lizards, snakes, and rodents. These smart and resourceful four-legged furry animals are often mistaken for dogs, so be sure to keep your domestic pet on a leash when out on a walk so that these wild canines don’t attack or lure your own four-legged companion back to their den.
Western Tanager
Stellar’s jays, chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, ducks in Tahoe Vista, and Common mergansers are popular to see in the woods and in/around the lake, but it’s a really lucky day if you see a Western Tanager. Featured on the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science logo, these songbirds are known for their colorful eye-catching plumage that instantly lifts your spirits, identifiable by their bright red heads and fluorescent yellow bellies.
Best places to see wildlife:
If you’re coming to Tahoe specifically for birding or to see wildlife, here are some hot spots:
- On the Tahoe Rim Trail or Pacific Crest Trail
The 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail that crosses the mountain ranges surrounding Lake Tahoe give hikers unfettered access to nature. The Pacific Crest Trail also passes through the West Shore 17 miles above the lake and continues through the Granite Chief Wilderness skirting by Truckee.
- On a TINS hike
For more than 15 years the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science has been taking people of all ages on hikes sharing knowledge about the Tahoe ecosystem and natural history of the area as well as consistently tracking animals and birds to help with conservation efforts. The TINS staff is a wealth of information, and you don’t have to go far to see something cool or new with them.
- In California State Parks
If you explore some of the parks like Emerald Bay, Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point, and D.L. Bliss mentioned in the recently released Moon Guides’ Best of California State Parks, then you’ll likely come across a mix of tree squirrels (also known as Douglas squirrels or chickarees), chipmunks, and Stellar’s jays. As mentioned previously, be careful walking under the sugar pines when those tree squirrels are chirping since they are prone to drop 5-19-inch-long pinecones.
Remember when viewing wildlife…always keep your distance, pack out what you pack in, leave only footprints and take only photographs.