Re: Coffeeberry - Rhamnus californica
Julie, et. al. ....
I think deer like coffeeberry here because there are slimmer pickings
for forage food — in the wild, not in gardens — than in areas with
milder climates. We have such a long dry season here, there aren't that
many big, leafy plants for deer to munch on, and many of those are not
preferred by deer.
I forgot to mention another deer problem with coffeeberry and other
native shrubs here like Ribes spp. (gooseberry) that have thin,
multi-branching stems: In the fall, the male deer use small shrubs and
trees to scrape off the antler velvet and otherwise sharpen (then
discard) their antlers. This often results in killing a plant, or at
least damaging it. Bark gets scraped off and branches are broken. This
probably doesn't happen everywhere. I seem to be located in a prime deer
rutting spot.... The only dogs in the neighborhood are coyotes and
foxes.
Paul Harrar
Nevada City, California
Sunset Zone 7
2,700 ft.
