"There’s something that draws us to life. It’s impossible to go outside and see a tree and not wonder at it."
Elias Johnson’s (BIO ‘26) fascination for life’s interconnections has only increased since coming to BYU to study biodiversity and conservation. Embracing a unique opportunity to turn his passion into impactful research, Johnson spent two months in parks throughout Mexico City to answer the question: would investing in birds of prey be a more sustainable solution to pests in today’s cities? With help from BYU biology professor Byron Adams and a CURA grant, Johnson joined a research team at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to collect data in one of the world’s largest cities.
The interactions between animals in the wild are well documented and understood by modern ecologists. “What’s not understood is if those same interactions take place in urban areas,” Johnson said. To learn how wildlife is adapting to streets and skyscrapers, as well as see how predation may be different in Mexico City, Johnson and his team chose to focus their study on raptors and the common gray squirrel.
Mexico is home to a variety of raptors, including the Cooper’s Hawk, Harris Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk. Mexico’s cities are also overrun with squirrels, pests that often carry diseases and out-compete other wildlife, forcing companies and families to pay for their removal. To find exactly what effect raptors have on squirrel populations, Johnson and his team woke every morning at 5:30 a.m. to visit parks and take measurements. In addition to counting the number of birds and squirrels at over 101 separate locations, they tracked other variables such as city noise, local dogs, and the height of trees. Furthermore, they visited the parks at the same time of day each time they collected samples, assisting in compiling thousands of critical data points.
Johnson found that raptors do influence the population of gray squirrels in city parks. With the data they collected, his team proved that the presence of raptors significantly decreased the number of squirrels. However, they were unable to account for all the other factors in the city. The number of variables present in an urban environment was immense, requiring further research to determine how to use raptors as part of a long-lasting solution to combat squirrel overpopulation. “We’re going to need to understand how humans fit into this puzzle,” Johnson said.
Though the work is still in progress, Johnson couldn’t be more grateful for his time in Mexico City. Beyond gaining practical experience in his field and furthering a cause he supports, he also came to love the people of Mexico and their dedication to nature. In his visits to parks, he met countless individuals like himself, people who valued green spaces and took time to appreciate their beauty.
By speaking to those locals and through his research on the flawless system of nature, Johnson has strengthened his relationship with the divine. “I find connection and refuge in the natural world,” Johnson said. “Being able to spend time exploring it, better understanding it, teaches me more about the Creator.” When he sees a Cooper’s Hawk flying through the sky, he can’t help but wonder at the world God has created. “All things denote there is a God,” Johnson finished, quoting Alma 30:44.
Learn more about Johnson’s research here. For more information about BYU’s biodiversity and conservation major, click here.