Large, Old Oak Trees
Cherry Hill Willamette Valley. Credit: 2021 Sara Evans-Peters
Large, old oak trees are the cornerstones of healthy oak habitat.
These dramatic figures on the landscape are critically important for wildlife. They can produce huge numbers of acorns, which are important as a First Food to Indigenous peoples, and provide nutrition to wildlife during the fall and winter when other food sources may be scarce. Their plentiful foliage provides foraging substrates for birds and bats. Both dead and living limbs provide nesting cavities, and fallen leaves become cover for soil invertebrates. These large trees provide substantial wildlife benefits and their acorns become the next generation of oak trees.
Oak stewardship guidelines by topic
Below you will find desired conditions representing a characteristic of a healthy, functioning oak ecosystem from the “Restoring Oak Habitats in Southern Oregon and North California: A Guide for Private Landowners” developed by the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network in collaboration with the Umpqua Oak Partnership. They also present guidelines to help you achieve each desired condition, and these guidelines can be applied to oak savanna, oak chaparral, oak woodland, and mixed oak-conifer habitats.
