Many woodland rodents and birds consume blue oak acorns as soon as they fall. In this manner, all the stored energy is consumed before the acorn uses that energy for a taproot. Historically, frequent but minor fires burned patches throughout oak woodlands. Thus, blue oaks have thick bark to reduce fire damage and an early sprouting attribute. It can occupy xeric, fire-prone environments due to an extensive root system exceeding 30 feet.
Blue oaks contribute to high species diversity underneath their canopies.
Since they are winter deciduous and drop many twigs each autumn, their abundant litter decomposes into a soil higher in nutrients, organic matter, and water-holding capacity than the surrounding grassland. Unfortunately, there are many threats to our oak woodlands and blue oaks. Since European settlement, woodlands have been managed primarily for livestock production, cleared for urbanization, and replanted for intensive agricultural production. Additionally, the wood is brittle and especially susceptible to attacks of dry rot and fungi, which rot branches and eat the hearts out of trees. The Predator Extermination Program has significantly exacerbated the oaks' problems by resulting in an unnatural abundance of acorn eating animals.