"'Disturbing the ecological balance is the worst mistake any government can make.'... 'I can suggest the imbalances that might follow any attempt to get rid of dragons... These rats and hogs destroy crops. Rats help to keep the hogs down by eating piglets. But rats are even worse than hogs, on food crops. The dragons graze through these very woods in the daytime ... the dragons and hogs keep the underbrush cropped back and the dragons keep the lower limbs trimmed off. But dragons also enjoy a tasty rat, so whenever one locates a rat hole, it gives it a shot of flame, not always killing adults as they dig two holes for each nest, but certainly killing any babies - and then the dragon digs in and has his favorite snack.'
'But why not kill the rats, and then clean up the dragons?'
'And let the hogs run wild? I simply know that disturbing a natural balance is a matter to be approached with fear and trembling - and a very versatile computer.'" From Glory Road pp.145-146