What would happen to the ecosystem of

Yellowstone if humans began to hunt wolves and

dramatically reduced their population? Explain your reasoning

Without cunning predators keeping them on their toes, elk mow down lush willows and other vegetation along rivers and streams. With plants chewed down and little vegetation to hold them in place, stream banks wash away and silt darkens the water. Sparse streamside greenery offers little for beavers to eat. Few beavers remain to engineer dams. Without beavers, there are no deeper pools and waters aren't as hospitable to fish. Scavengers like grizzly bears, ravens and eagles now have to hunt for food. In the absence of wolves, coyotes multiply and take over the role of leading predator. But their influence on elk is not as great. Coyotes compete with foxes, depressing fox numbers.