Hyenas, considered 'villains of the world,' play key role in returning nutrients to desert soil

Hyenas help redistribute calcium and phosphorous by crunching bones.

This is an Inside Science story. The crushing jaws of hyenas may act as a kind of nutrient blender, grinding out calcium and phosphorous from bones and dumping them back into the relatively poor soil of the Kalahari Desert. Researchers had noticed that carnivores like wild dogs and cheetahs have a curious way of recycling nutrients back into the landscape. When they eat prey, these animals will spread components like iron found in blood around the kill site while eating. They will also poop out other nutrients. Hyenas eat plenty of meat, but they also crunch bones like none other to get at the marrow.