407 Langley St.

San Diego, CA 92102

September 14, 2014

Mark Tercek
4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203-1606

Dear Mr. Mark Tercek:

I am Galilea Patricio, a senior attending the school of Science, Connections, and
Technology at Kearny Educational Complex. I will inform you of my findings regarding
the requested proposal to determine the effects of coyote removal in West Texas. I am
aware the that Natural Conservancy strives to operate with respect, integrity, and
diversity for the people as well as their communities and cultures. With this knowledge I
advise that the coyotes within the region should not be removed for the following
reasons.
The removal of coyotes does increase the population of species, however it decreases
the rodent diversity in this environment. The mammalian mesopredators in this semi-
arid environment includes badgers, bobcats, skunks, and grey foxes with the low level
predators consisting of jackrabbits, cottontails, ground squirrels, and rodents (rats and
mice). The coyotes provide a control for this environment, without them the populations
of other species continue to gradually increase which also increases the competition for
resources. The increasing populations will reach their carrying capacity and can end up
exhausting the resources such as the vegetation in the environment which will also
decrease the diversity of plant life.
Removing coyotes from the environment in West Texas will only cause gradual loss of
biodiversity for both plant and animal life. I propose a solution to both increase game
and livestock populations and allow coyotes to remain in their habitat. The effects of
coyote removal is dependent upon the environment from which it is removed. I propose
that game and livestock populations be increased in locations in which coyotes do not
often inhabit or one in which the biodiversity of the place will not be compromised.

Sincerely yours,

Galilea Patricio
Kearny Science, Connections, and Technology