The berries are consumed by birds, including mockingbirds, American robins, and cedar waxwings. Mammals including coyotes and bears also eat and disperse the berries.

Do bears eat toyon berries?

The berries are the most distinguishing feature on this plant, and they provide food and shelter for many of our native animals. Toyon berries are a food source for animals from small birds such as western bluebirds, cedar waxwings, and mockingbirds to large mammals like coyotes and bears.

Is toyon poisonous to dogs?

Heteromeles arbutifolia (toyon) , or Christmasberry, is a southern California native of the chapparal community which is a photinia relative. It is on a California list under the name Photinia arbutifolia as a plant which is poisonous to humans, but is not listed as toxic to dogs.