Wild donkeys and horses dig wells in the desert, help life thrive
Burros in Arizona. Credit: Bureau of Land Management. The first horses and donkeys came to the Americas on ships during Christopher Columbus’ Second Voyage. Although they were essential to European colonization, the two animals are typically seen as invasive species that are not part of the local wildlife. But rather than harming other animals, wild horses and donkeys in North America may actually help local plants and animals thrive by digging deep wells that provide water in the desert. The desert’s ecosystem engineers Wild horses, known as mustangs, are often in the spotlight, but the ...
Source: zmescience.com