ARANSAS PASS — David Sikes' Outdoors column on coyote trappers
("Coyote trappers in trouble on island," Jan. 10) provided much
needed information regarding the management (not elimination) of
wildlife in the area. I hope it educated at least a few in Texas
regarding supposed "vermin" such as coyotes and the need for a
healthy habitat. Other research agrees with the column that the
population of coyote varies in relationship to the available
food and the existing coyote population, and that coyotes are a
necessary and natural part of the balance of nature. A similar
example is what happened in Yellowstone Park when wolves were
reintroduced. As expected, the elk herd became healthier, but
unexpectedly, the trees and underbrush rejuvenated and returned
to healthier original growth and species without the elk
overgrazing. Elimination of coyotes, as happened with the
wolves, will create an unbalanced ecological system. Coyotes are
not particularly dangerous to people, but the resulting
overpopulation of snakes and