This text is the translation ofa CTV News article.

Local extinction or extinction is when the species or population no longer exists in a given geographic area, meaning at least one other population of the species still exists in other regions, dictionaries of biology state.

The institute focuses on protecting wildlife by reintroducing endangered species such as capercaillie, digger owl and black owl into the wild.

During this fire season, they’re focusing on two species: the whooping crane, a species of bird in Alberta, and the wood poppy, a flower in Ontario.

Gráinne Michelle McCabe, director of conservation operations at the Wilder Institute, told CTVNews.ca on Thursday that she is working with local partners, such as researchers from the University of Lethbridge, to help strengthen these vulnerable wild populations and protect against fire hazards.

“If certain species are lost, an ecosystem can become unbalanced,” she recalls.

McCabe added that whooping cranes migrate from Alberta’s Wood Buffalo National Park to the Gulf of Mexico in Texas.

A fire in the bird’s small Alberta habitat could “destroy and decimate their fragile population” and lead to local extinctions, McCabe explained.

Similar to humans, fires have devastating effects on wildlife ranging from health problems to disruptions in communications and migration patterns.

In birds in particular, smoke has a long-term effect on the lungs, affecting communication and the ability to find mates and defend territory. Additionally, wildfires can make it difficult to find a suitable nesting site if their current habitat is destroyed.

Another species of concern is the wood poppy, an endangered flower found only in three small regions in southern Ontario and parts of the United States.

“If any of these three populations were exposed to a wildfire, we could lose a significant portion of Canada’s crops, with devastating consequences,” McCabe warns.

Although wildfires are necessary for nature to regulate itself, McCabe noted that given their increasing frequency and intensity in recent years, ecosystems are not given enough time to recover.

“If they are unable to recover, these habitats may no longer be suitable for animal species that once found food, water, mates or nesting sites there. This could have serious long-term effects on these species,” she added in an email to CTVNews.ca on Friday.

McCabe said anyone concerned about the impact of wildfires on wildlife could consider supporting local organizations working to restore and conserve habitats and species.