Is collecting seeds or berries to grow plants “depriving” other animals of food?
Yes, it is. However by using those seeds or berries to propagate new plants you are increasing the amount of food will be available to them in the future. One squirrel may skip a snack if you take a black walnut away from him, but a number of them will have a big feast if you plant that walnut to grow a new tree. Squirrels deprive each other of food the same way when they bury their nuts, thereby planting the seeds that grow into trees.
