Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell
Photo Credit: iStock

Today’s Good news story comes from The Cool Down. This was sent to me by my correspondent, Noelle Granger

Gophers become unexpected heroes after scientists introduce them to site of Mount St. Helens eruption

Jordan Carlton

In the late spring of 1983, scientists set out to help restore the surrounding environment decimated by the infamous Mount St. Helens eruption just three years prior, Popular Mechanics reported.

The catastrophic eruption, now known as the deadliest volcanic eruption in the history of the United States, claimed 57 lives and destroyed hundreds of square miles of land, with damages amounting to over $1 billion, according to KOMO News.

Following the devastation, scientists were tasked with determining how to restore ecological balance to the scorched landscape. They turned to some of nature’s unsung heroes: gophers.

Scientists from the University of California gathered a group of the small, burrowing rodents and dropped them off at the site of the eruption with plans to let them behave as normal.

“By digging up beneficial bacteria and fungi, gophers might be able to help regenerate lost plant and animal life on the mountain,” determined the University of California report.

The gophers did not let anyone down. Within just six years of their introduction to Mount St. Helens, 40,000 plants were reported growing, compared to the original measly dozen that initially persevered, breaking through pumice slabs formed by the lava.

The shocking part, however, has been discovered more recently as scientists begin to understand the extent to which these gophers transformed the landscape. From a desolate wasteland to thriving forests, the gophers fostered a microbial community that allows plants to thrive in the area to this day.

One of the scientists behind the project, UC Riverside microbiologist Michael Allen, underscored the importance of fungi alongside the gophers’ digging, which turns the soil.

“With the exception of a few weeds, there is no way most plant roots are efficient enough to get all the nutrients and water they need by themselves,” Allen said in the University of California media release. “The fungi transport these things to the plant and get carbon they need for their own growth in exchange.”

To underscore the point, land untouched by the gophers remained mostly unfruitful.

The benefits of these furry heroes extend beyond the immediate site of the eruption as well. By rejuvenating the ecosystem and reintroducing many plant and animal species, surrounding communities can benefit from repaired biodiversity, allowing for better resilience against external pressures like water and air pollution.

University of Connecticut mycologist Mia Maltz, co-author of a study focusing on the recovering forests of Mount St. Helens, emphasized the importance of these natural, interconnected systems.

“We cannot ignore the interdependence of all things in nature, especially the things we cannot see like microbes and fungi,” she said.

The good news in this story is nature takes care of itself. Today’s JohnKu talks about recovery. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

Sustaining by John W. Howell © 2026

You ever notice?

When left alone, Mother Nature . . .

Is self sustaining.

66 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  2. You’re right about nature being self-sustaining when allowed to do what she pleases. I remember a story about the reintroduction of beavers helping to restore an environment; it might even be that I read it here, since it’s the same sort of good news story.

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  16. Love your poem, John. And to answer your question, I’ve often thought that Mother Nature could manage quite well without our pampering. 😊

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  20. This is fascinating, John. We lived in Oregon at the time of the eruption. I remember the people who stubbornly would not leave their homes in spite of repeated warnings.

    When we first moved to Portland, Oregon, Mt. St. Helen was one of our two guiding landmarks. Mt. Hood told us we were going straight east. When Mt. St. Helen disappeared, commuting in Portland was strange for us.

    Thanks again for sharing. Who knew gophers were so beneficial. 🙂

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  25. Good to see gophers doing something useful for a change. Our backyard has mountains of activity. When Mt. St. Helen’s erupted, vehicles all over our city were covered in ash, even though we live 500 miles away.

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  27. Hmm. I have mixed feelings about this. Yes, I’m happy gophers helped that land become healthier. BUT, they are utterly destroying my yard. IT’S becoming a wasteland. I’d love to catch and ship our resident rodents to Mt. St. Helens myself.

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  28. Sadly there are no live trap options for gophers. They can be trapped with a mid evil looking device that terminates them. Or live with those burrows. Just be careful you don’t break an ankle walking across the yard.

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