Consider the scenario

Black-tailed prairie dogs are a rodent native to the grasslands of
North America. Ecologists tracking colonies of black-tailed
prairie dogs noticed a significant population decline, in some
places by as much as 95%.


The ecologists read reports documenting the presence of a
bacteria that causes sylvatic plague. The sylvatic plague
primarily affects rodents and is transmitted through flea bites.


Which statement is a hypothesis that would best address the
question, "Are black-tailed prairie dogs dying to sylvatic plague
and causing the population to decline?"

A. The sylvatic plague is only killing off black-tailed praine dogs that are already old or weak.

B. Drought is most likely killing off the majority of black-
tailed prairie dogs.

C. If black-tailed prairie dogs eat different food, their population will be able to recover.

D. If sylvatic plague is killing prairie dogs, then vaccinating them will allow the population to grow