Downed logs are important to the forest ecology because they house many species of animals and insects. Downed logs have fallen victim to storm breakage, fire, disease, insects, lightning, or a variety of other factors. The larger the downed log, the more stable and usable it is to sustain habitats for creatures such as chipmunks, mice, foxes, bears, frogs, snakes, turtles, salamanders, and a multitude of other woodland creatures. The logs are used for nesting, roosting, foraging, perching, and even showing ownership of a territory. Unfortunately, practices such as firewood removal, insect control, and disease control have limited the amount of downed logs found in forests.