Betula alleghaniensis
Deer do not tend to browse young "B. lenta" allowing trees to grow in areas with high deer populations, "Betula alleghaniensis", a close relative of "B. lenta," is, however, heavily browsed by deer. This accounts for a lack of "B. alleghaniensis" and an abundance of "B. lenta" where deer populations are high. In abandoned fields, "B. lenta" is often thicket forming and protects trees not resistant to deer browsing.