There are many environmental factors necessary for the growth of an animal population. Food, water, breeding areas and a variety of other factors combine to limit the carrying capacity of a habitat. Birth rate and death rate are two processes of major importance in population dynamics. Since most animals produce many offspring, and we do not see the population numbers constantly increasing, it follows that the death rate is also high. Those with the highest birth rates also have high death rates. The causes of death, such as starvation, disease, predation, accidents, weather and hunting are called mortality factors. For example, weather can cause great variation in both the production and the survival of young. Any of the mortality factors may be important in particular places at particular times. Wildlife biologists take the different birth and death rates into account when managing wildlife populations.

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