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. Wlien 

 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 



