Large herbivores, suchas livestock and deer, are also acknowledged problems. These mammals eatboth acorns and seedlings. In the fall, acorns are an important source offood for deer, and their foraging can severely deplete acorn crops. Wildpigs represent another threat. Populations of this animal are increasingrapidly, and pigs are efficient harvesters of fallen acorns.
Pigs also digup planted acorns.
In one blue oak regeneration study, acorns were plantedbefore erection of a protective fence around the study site. In an overnightattack, wild pigs dug up and ate most of the acorns. Fencing, either permanentor temporary, can be used to protect planted sites from large herbivores,and management of livestock can help limit the impacts of grazing by theseanimals. As a result, large mammals may be less a threat than smaller creatures. Foraging by small mammals accounts for considerable loss of acorns.