22 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
that our hospitable land so abundantly provided, and still 
provides if we will only conserve them in accordance with 
their needs. 
Compared with the rapacity of man, the destruction of 
our wild life by natural factors is slight, although it must 
demand our serious consideration. When animals become 
reduced in numbers through man’s improvidence, then their 
natural enemies which have not suffered a like diminution 
take an unnatural and abnormal toll. The usual balance 
of nature is completely upset, and the remnant is exposed 
to excessive numbers of their enemies. The latter increase 
in numbers and become emboldened in their attacks. Pred- 
atory animals, such as wolves, harry the struggling bands 
whose former abundance enabled them to withstand the 
natural onslaughts of their enemies. Therefore, when an 
animal is reduced in numbers, the necessity of lessening the 
effects of natural reduction by predatory enemies becomes 
an important part of any policy of protection. 
In Canada forest fires constitute one of the most serious 
dangers to animal life. Not only do such conflagrations de- 
stroy large numbers of mammals and birds, particularly 
young ones, but they destroy the haunts of such animals, 
and in consequence any replenishing or restocking of the 
devastated area is impeded for some time, and in any case 
the conditions are never as suitable or as attractive. 
It has already been pointed out that a species of animal 
must not be destroyed at a greater rate than it can increase. 
This axiom involves a number of fundamental requirements. 
The first of these is the necessity of safeguarding the future 
of the species by adequate protection of the females. When 
the females of game animals are killed a reduction in num- 
bers will invariably ensue, and the decrease in the abun- 
dance of game animals, owing to the killing of the females, 
is now generally recognized by those responsible for the 
protection of game. Where the females are not protected 
