Dominated by black and white oaks, modern mixed oak forest communities are found mostly on sandy soils, ridge areas, valley bluffs, and rocky uplands.
At the time of European settlement, American chestnuts were also quite common—until blight was introduced in the 20th century, wiping them out entirely. Today, efforts are made to restore chestnut populations to selected portions of Northeast Ohio, including the Perkins Wildlife Center.
Common understory shrubs in these forests include flowering dogwood, common lowbush blueberry, huckleberry, maple leaf viburnum, common serviceberry, and witch hazel. Typical herbaceous members of the forest include common bluets, stargrass, prostrate tick trefoil, shining bedstraw, and several species of bush clover.
Oak communities are home to scarlet tanagers, cerulean warblers, hairy woodpeckers, and wild turkeys. One may also see black bears, red bats, ring-necked snakes, and bobcats.