New research on wild deer grazing in the Iberian Peninsula shows that ungulates’ effects on soil are subtle yet habitat-dependent. While grazing increased bulk density and altered soil chemistry, significant changes in microbial communities occurred only in certain environments—highlighting that habitat type plays a key role in how ecosystems respond to herbivory. This study published in Plant & Soil, is the product of a dynamic international collaboration, bringing together scientists from Montclair State University (USA), the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Universitat de les Illes Balears. Their combined expertise in soil ecology, wildlife biology, and environmental science underscores the value of cross-institutional cooperation in tackling complex ecological questions.