Black-tailed deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Slender-legged deer with large black-tipped ears and small black tail. Browses gardens at dawn/dusk; prefers native shrubs and tender plants. Heavy browsing pressure shapes Bay Area vegetation composition.
Plants that support Black-tailed deer
35 plants
Alameda Manzanita
Arctostaphylos pallida
shrub
Browse on evergreen foliage during fall and winter months
Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens
fern
Primary browse species in coastal scrub and oak woodland understory; particularly important winter forage when other vegetation limited
Brittleleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. crustacea
shrub
Critical winter browse when other food sources limited
Brownhead Rush
Juncus phaeocephalus var. phaeocephalus
perennial herb
early spring grazing on fresh new growth in wet meadows and montane seeps
California Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
tree
year-round browsing on alder foliage and saplings in riparian corridors
California Balsamroot
Balsamorhiza macrolepis
perennial herb
Opportunistic browsing on available foliage, particularly spring growth
California Bay Laurel
Umbellularia californica
tree
Browsing on evergreen foliage particularly critical during drought and winter when other vegetation is scarce
California Sheepburr
Acaena californica
perennial herb
opportunistic browsing of herbaceous vegetation, especially in spring growth phase
California blackberry
Rubus ursinus
shrub
Browse foliage spring-summer, fruit in late summer-fall
California bottlebrush grass
Elymus californicus
grass
spring forage when new growth emerges Apr-Jun; higher nutritional value during leaf-out
Coast Black Gooseberry
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum
shrub
Browsed year-round; particularly important winter browse in riparian areas
Coast Whitethorn
Ceanothus incanus
perennial herb
Browse foliage as part of chaparral diet, particularly important during winter when herbaceous vegetation scarce
Common Horsetail
Equisetum arvense
fern
Winter survival food; spring shoots during green-up period
Common Viburnum
Viburnum ellipticum
shrub
browse on leaves and twigs; especially important in winter months
Desert Gold Parsnip*
Aphyllon tuberosum
perennial herb
Browsing on available herbaceous vegetation during growing season in grassland and scrub
Eastwood's Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. glandulosa
shrub
Browsing on leaves; evergreen availability important in winter
Hansen's Larkspur
Delphinium hansenii
perennial herb
Spring and early summer forage
Hoary Manzanita
Arctostaphylos canescens
perennial herb
browse evergreen foliage especially in winter when other browse limited
Holly-leaf Buckthorn
Rhamnus ilicifolia
shrub
browses leaves and twigs throughout year; important winter browse in chaparral
Interior Silktassle
Garrya congdonii
shrub
palatable evergreen browse, especially important winter and drought periods
Kings Mountain Manzanita
Arctostaphylos regismontana
perennial herb
Browse leaves and stems year-round; increased browsing pressure during winter when other forage limited
Mexican Elder
Sambucus mexicana
shrub
Browse leaves and tender shoots, particularly in winter
Montara Manzanita
Arctostaphylos montaraensis
perennial herb
Browse foliage in fall when other resources scarce
Oak Gooseberry
Ribes quercetorum
shrub
Browsing on leaves and twigs throughout year; important winter browse
Ocean Spray
Holodiscus discolor
shrub
Winter and spring browse when other forage limited; palatability increases in new growth
Red Willow
Salix laevigata
shrub
Year-round browse of leaves and twigs; winter browse critical
Rincon Manzanita
Arctostaphylos stanfordiana ssp. decumbens
perennial herb
Browse on foliage and shoots during fall and winter drought periods
Sacramento Valley Buttercup
Ranunculus canus var. canus
perennial herb
Spring herbaceous forage in California foothill and wetland habitats
Salmonberry
Rubus spectabilis
perennial herb
Seasonal fruit availability supplements summer diet
Santa Barbara Sedge
Carex barbarae
grass
browses evergreen foliage year-round in Santa Barbara coastal regions
Santa Cruz Manzanita
Arctostaphylos andersonii
perennial herb
Winter and drought season browse when preferred foliage scarce; evergreen foliage provides emergency food source
Shatterberry
Arctostaphylos nummularia
perennial herb
Winter browse when other forage is scarce; Arctostaphylos species important winter food
Sierran Woodbeauty
Drymocallis lactea
perennial herb
Spring and summer primary forage; winter emergency browse in Sierra habitats
Swamp Carex
Carex senta
grass
browsed opportunistically when available; more heavily utilized in winter when other forage limited
Western Leatherwood
Dirca occidentalis
shrub
Browsed as winter browse when deciduous foliage available; important in riparian habitats