Too bitter for human consumption, acorns provide food for squirrels, gray foxes, rabbits, white-tailed deer and black bears. High in fats and starches, they are an excellent high-energy food for wildlife. A variety of songbird and game bird species feast on the acorns as well. Acorns are the favorite food of turkey, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, blue jay, brown thrasher and rufous-sided towhee. Aside from using the red oak as a food source, you may see Baltimore orioles, scarlet tanagers, rose breasted grosbeaks and robins building nests in the canopy.
Red oaks suffer the same diseases and insect damage as other oak species.
Oak wilt disease is the most serious. It can kill a tree within a year. Spread through root grafts and by insects, birds, and other animals, this fungi attacks the tree s foliage. Remove and destroy dead and dying trees to control it. In addition, damage to the tree s trunk is caused by Strumella and Nectria fungi, make the lumber worthless.