328 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



certain low alpine willows had been browsed so that a decided prefer- 

 ence appears to be shown for such shrubs in late summer at high 

 altitudes in the Sierra Nevada. 



FALL 



I have found that mule deer in California feed heaviest upon 

 weeds during the fall months. The term "weeds" is here used in the 

 agricultural sense, referring to certain herbs which seriously interfere 

 with agricultural pursuits. Mule deer are fond of many species of 

 such "weed" plants wliieli the rancher or orcliardist considers as 



Fig. 124. A California mule deer doe browsing on western clioke cherry. Note 

 that all leaves have been eaten to a height of 54 inches. Yosemite, July 1, 

 1927. Mus. Vert. Zool. No. 5404. 



nuisances. Weeds such as tumble-weed, horseweed and curly dock are 

 kept pruned back by deer, the repeated nippings keeping a fresh 

 supply of tender growth coming on in the dry season especially in late 

 summer and early fall when green food is at a premium. Golden rod, 

 sagewort, mugwort and even that fern pest, the common bracken, are 

 all eaten extensively in the early fall. Even milkweed is then eaten. 



Among the shrubs we find that buck brush and snow brush which 

 have been lightly utilized during the summer are heavily utilized by 

 mule deer in the fall. In many instances, I have found that poison oak, 

 gooseberry bushes and especially Nevada currant bushes are most 

 heavily consumed by mule deer in the early fall. 



