When we discuss an invasive species on this show, the discussion turns to the distruction by that species on the environment. But, here is an animal that has become part of the food web,is saving other species from a warming climate by digging 5' water wells, and is now part of the very fabric of America's desert. Federal biologists are faced with some inconvenient data thanks to an out of the box scientist, and now they have to answer an ethical question as to what to do next  with the Death Valley Donkeys. 


I got todays information from: 
https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/eight-warmest-years-record-witness-upsurge-climate-change-impacts

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-donkeys-wells-life.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wild-donkeys-and-horses-dig-wells-provide-water-host-desert-species-180977627/

https://www.google.com/search?q=donkeys+digging+wells&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS773US773&oq=donkeys+digging+wells&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60l2j69i61.2900j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_H8cgZMn4E9Hl5NoP46Ko0AM_29

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/15/science/donkeys-mountain-lions-death-valley.html

https://www.salon.com/2012/04/02/hollywoods_long_history_of_animal_cruelty/

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Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)