Deer can change the plant and tree community by over-browsing everything from the ground to about 4 feet up. Not only is the shrub layer destroyed, but tree regeneration becomes impossible when the seedlings have been consumed. Songbirds disappear and the forest is left susceptible to natural disasters, disease, and invasion by non-native plant species. Trillium are a favorite deer food and a good indicator of forest health. If the trillium disappear, the forest understory is at risk. No list of deer-resistant plants is 100% accurate for deer choose plants based on what is available, how hungry they are, and what time of year it is. Plants with a strong-scented fragrance are often deer-resistant. The staff at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve compiled a list of deer tolerant/resistant native plants based on observation and existing lists of 'deer-proof' plants. More information on the impact of deer on biodiversity can be found in Deer-proof Plants?, Ecological Impact of White-Tailed Deer, and Impact of Deer on Native Plants.