Insects, birds, or bats are attracted to the bright colors or the scent of the flowers. As they feed, these creatures carry pollen from one part of the plant to the other. The process is called pollination. Cactuses are important to animals and people. Small animals, insects, and birds feed on the stems and flowers of cactuses.
Many birds build nests in cactus stems.
Certain woodpeckers live inside the larger species. Birds and animals may hide from enemies in the stem of a cactus plant. Cactuses also provide food for people. After the spines are scraped off, prickly pear stems can be fried and eaten. Some people eat cactus fruits, or grind the seeds into a kind of meal or cakes.