Woodland Wildlife

Oak woodlands are one of the richest broad habitats in the state with well over 300 terrestrial vertebrates utilizing woodlands at some time during the year. They are also extremely important for a wide range of insect life. How they are managed can therefore have a significant impact on the populations of a great number of animal species. When the IHRMP began in 1986, however, there was relatively little specific information about how woodland management activities including oak tree removal or thinning, intensive grazing, or prescribed burning might impact wildlife populations. Considerable research has therefore been done in the wildlife area. For a complete list of vertebrate wildlife species by oak woodland habitat type, click here.

Shown below are links to several publications and web sites that address the relationship between oak woodlands and wildlife.

Wildlife Among the Oaks (Ordering Information)

Oak Woodland Invertebrates: The Little Things Count (Ordering Information)

California Department of Fish and Game Web Site

California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System Web Site

Listen to a Webinar

All webinar segments were taped for the Oak Webinar Series hosted by UCCE Forest Specialists and Advisors in collaboration with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Division.

Wildlife and Biodiversity. Presented by Greg Giusti, UCCE Forest Advisor

UC Delivers Stories

Sometimes “active ranch management” is undertaken to increase profits from livestock and hunting, and to reduce fire hazard. Active management may include tree thinning and the removal of shrub understory and large woody debris (LW). However, there has been little research in California oak woodland on the functional relationships between LW and wildlife diversity and abundance, and the balancing of these ecological values with the economics of ranching.

Read about: Large Woody Debris and Ranch Management in California Oak Woodland