The article attempts to find out what role small reserves of protected steppe play in animal conservation. What can be preserved with the help of small reserves: species, population, or a group of individuals? What role do reserves play in each case? The work is based on the author's observations of animals in the territory of Striltsivsky Steppe (division of Luhansk Nature Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), which at that time occupied an area of 522.7 hectares, as well as and in Khomutovsky Steppe (division of the Ukrainian Natural Steppe Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) with an area of 1030.4 hectares in the period from 1985 to 2007. Materials of the Chronicles of Nature of these two reserves are also analysed. The problem of species protection is considered on the example of four species: common hamster (Cricetus cricetus), meadow hawk (Circus pygargus), pink starling (Sturnus roseus), and barn owl (Asio flammeus). It is investigated how the protection regime affects the conservation of these species. Reserves here act as territories, as state organizations, and as scientific institutions. It is shown how the use of different functions of reserves and their combinations in relation to a particular animal species can contribute to its conservation.