The Secret Magic Of Gophers To Help Restore Devastated Landscapes

A team of American scientists sought to learn whether a team of burrowing rodents could help restore Mount St Helens after her 1980 eruption.

© by GrrlScientist for Forbes | LinkTr.ee

Mount St Helens four months after the 18 May 1980 eruption. Note the bareness of the terrain. (Credit: Harry Glicken / USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, CC0)

It was a bright, warm and nearly cloudless morning on 18 May 1980, when all hell broke loose throughout much of Washington State. This was when Mount St. Helens, a dormant volcano, roared to life, sending hot lava cascading down her slopes and incinerating every living thing for miles around. Thick clouds of ash obliterated the sun, darkening the skies and fell like snow for days. Living nearby as I did when this event unfolded, I clearly recall how the warm temperatures suddenly dropped as cold winds began to blow. It was like what I’d imagine it would be like to live near a raging Mount Doom in Mordor.

For years afterwards, the decapitated mountain remained barren and nearly lifeless, her trees flattened, although a few tiny plants did struggle for life in the thick ash. But even as the volcano despaired, scientists were making their plans. They were planning to test whether pocket gophers — a widespread burrowing rodent that many people persecute as pests — could help speed Mount St. Helens’ recovery.