A principal value of hydric hammocks for wildlife is the abundance of tree cavities that are used by many species for shelter or nesting.  Another significant feature for the wildlife is the numerous seeds and fruits the hammock produces.  The seeds of pines and sweetgums are high in protein and phosphorous, and pine seeds are common in the diet of squirrels.  Consumers and hoarders, including raccoons, bears, blue-jays, and gray squirrels, are important dispersers of seeds of plants in the hydric hammock.  As a result, animal-plant interactions play an important role in the ecosystem of the hydric hammock. 

 Hydric hammocks are linked with upland and downslope communities by the movement of animals and the flow of water.  Hydric hammocks often intercept surface and ground water before it enters rivers, sometimes altering the pattern or quality of flow.  Some animals simply pass through hydric hammocks to reach their preferred habitat, but for others, this area provides essential shelter and food during parts of their life cycles.  Movements of animals, and their transport of fruits and seeds, link both the plant and animal aspects of hydric hammocks to both adjacent and distant communities.