Gerardo Ruiz Smith reports that the reintroduction of bison to Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert is revitalizing the local ecosystem.
Gerardo Ruiz Smith, director of the Fundación Pro Cuatrociénegas, stated that the reintroduction of dozens of bison to the Chihuahuan Desert in northern Mexico is significantly improving the health of the local ecosystem. The bison were reintroduced to the El Santuario Reserve, a protected area in Coahuila state, after being extirpated by human activity in the 19th century. Ruiz Smith explained that the bison act as 'ecosystem engineers' by regenerating soil, improving water infiltration, and reducing wildfire risks by consuming dry vegetation. The animals also serve as inadvertent seed spreaders and provide manure that attracts dung beetles, which further aerate and enrich the soil. Hidden cameras have already begun to capture the variety of wildlife, such as pumas and lynxes, returning to the area. Ruiz Smith described the bison as 'landscape architects' that are molding and regenerating their surroundings.