THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY OAK WOODLANDS ECOSYSTEMS FOR BLACK-TAILED DEER
Oak woodlands are an important ecosystem type for the long-term health and sustainability of our black-tailed deer herds throughout much of their range in Northern California and Southern Oregon. Black-tailed deer need a variety of habitats to thrive, but oak woodlands are one of the most important. Typically, a healthy oak woodland is made up of an overstory dominated by mature oak trees with enough space between them to allow sufficient light to reach the ground. The most common types are white oak, blue oak, black oak, valley oak, or one of several varieties of live oak.