A study analyzed the DNA of 302 feral dogs living near the power plant, compared the animals to others living 10 miles away, and found remarkable differences. Nearly four decades later, the Chernobyl Power Plant and many parts of the surrounding area remain uninhabited—by humans, at least. Related Story Pop Mech Explains the UniverseScientists have been analyzing certain animals living within the CEZ for years, including bacteria, rodents, and even birds. The study uncovered that the feral dogs living near the Chernobyl Power Plant showed distinct genetic differences from dogs living only some 10 miles away in nearby Chernobyl City. Once they determined that the populations were genetically similar, they then used the Chernobyl City dogs as a representative control for their study.