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Wild Horses and Donkeys Dig Desert Wells That Sustain 57 Species
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Moneycontrol•12-10-2026, 17:58
Wild Horses and Donkeys Dig Desert Wells That Sustain 57 Species
- •Research in Arizona's Sonoran and Mojave deserts between 2015 and 2018 found that wild horses and donkeys dig wells that supply up to 74% of surface water at certain sites.
- •Camera traps recorded 57 vertebrate species, including mule deer, mountain lions, and migratory birds, drinking from these animal-made wells.
- •The wells also reduced the average distance between accessible water sources by 843 metres during dry periods.
- •Abandoned holes created moist ground conditions that allowed cottonwood seedlings to grow and reach heights of up to 2 metres.
- •While these animals can damage fragile dryland ecosystems, their digging behavior acts as an ecosystem engineer role by providing critical water resources.
Key Questions Answered
Wild horses and donkeys dig into dry ground in Arizona's Sonoran Desert to expose groundwater, creating unexpected water sources that help dozens of wildlife species survive during the summer when natural streams disappear.
Camera traps deployed across the Sonoran and Mojave deserts recorded 57 vertebrate species drinking from the animal-made wells, including migratory songbirds, mule deer, mountain lions, and a black bear.
Yes, researchers found evidence that abandoned holes create suitable moist ground and open space conditions for cottonwood seedlings to establish themselves, with some seedlings surviving the summer and growing up to 2 metres tall.
