in what ways do you think a small creature like a squirrel is important to a forest?

Squirrels help the forest in the process of renewal, by helping in the dispersal of seeds, especially, hazel, beech, chestnut, stone pine and Scots pine as they collect those seeds. A squirrel takes the fallen nut in its mouth and starts digging a small hole to store it. This action is called hoarding. In autumn, when the nuts or cones are ripe, the squirrels take up to an hour to hide groups of 1-5 seeds rich in energy in those holes. Many of the hidden seeds are recovered but most are left behind to grow into new plants.