After the volcanic eruption of 1980, scientists released the burrowing rodents for only a brief time, but their activities left a remarkably enduring impact, according to a new study

Six years post-experiment, there were 40,000 plants thriving on the gopher plots. The untouched land remained mostly barren.

In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens devastated local ecosystems, but an experimental introduction of gophers has demonstrated a long-term positive impact on the soil and plant life. Scientists observed that gophers,