PHOENIX (KVOA) - A study by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has found that feral burros are damaging key plant species in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, affecting both habitat and wildlife.

"For a number of years in areas with burros, our biologists anecdotally observed trees that were over-browsed and that had ripped bark and branches," said Clay Crowder, AZGFD assistant director.

The study, conducted around Lake Havasu and Lake Pleasant, focused on vegetation and wildlife presence.

“Our most significant findings were related to the vegetation,” said Esther Rubin, AZGFD Research Branch chief.

Palo verde trees, ironwood trees and saguaro cacti are particularly affected. These "nurse plants" provide essential shade and protection for young plants and wildlife.

“When you see the

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