Conserving Threatened Endemic Oak Trees

Micke Grove Zoo is home to a number of Valley Oak trees (Quercus lobata), approximately 80 to 100 years old, that are endemic to California’s Central Valley and are categorized as Near Threatened by the World Conservation Union. The Zoo aims to contribute to the preservation and restoration of pristine Oak woodlands that have largely disappeared from the San Joaquin Valley through THE VALLEY OAK CONSERVATION PROJECT. The projects goal is to contribute towards conserving and restoring the natural oak woodland inside Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park* by growing and planting valley oak saplings particularly in denuded areas where oak trees succumbed to severe drought (2015-2016). Micke Grove Zoo staff and volunteers are participating in project activities, which include collecting fresh acorns, processing them for germination through stratification, maintaining a small tree nursery and finally planting healthy saplings in Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park.

Valley oak trees have created a mini woodland in the Zoo's amphitheater area

 

Project Activities

• Collection of Valley Oak Acorns - The valley oak trees on zoo premises drop acorns during the fall season every year. Zoo volunteer, Atticus Swanson was tasked with collecting these acorns. The acorns were examined for holes, cracks or insect activity. The damaged ones were discarded and the rest placed in warm water for 24 hours. While healthy acorns remained submerged, damaged acorns floated. These damaged acorns were discarded.

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION