Black-tailed deer, mule deer, California ground squirrels, western gray squirrels, and other indigenous fauna feed on the leaves of the plant.
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Pacific poison oak skin contact first causes itching; then evolves into dermatitus with inflammation, colorless bumps, severe itching, and blistering.
Poison Oak is part of the Sumac (Anacardiaceae)family, Toxicodendron diversilobum or Rhus diversiloba is the binomial name for Poison Oak in the Western United States and south to Mexico.
Among the shrub species that characterize this community, prominent in the Verdugos are laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) and two species of California-lilac (Ceanothus crassifolius and C. oliganthus).