A Delicate Balance
A member of the cypress family, the California Juniper (Juniperus californica) grows on mountain slopes of the Mojave Desert. Desert wildlife depend on the juniper for food and shelter, and the juniper needs them to survive. Mule deer browse on the shrubbery, creating room for new growth. Birds dig out harmful insects along the scaly trunks. Coyotes and other animals eat and disperse the berries, which are only found on the female plants. Wood rats build nests at the base of their trunks.
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