Dear Glacier Lover,

Do you know about the remarkable relationship between whitebark pine and Clark's nutcracker? Whitebark pine have specially sealed cones that keep any animals but nutcrackers from opening them and eating their highly nutritious pine nuts. In exchange, the nutcracker disperses the whitebark's seeds and buries them so a new generation of pines can grow.

These species are so intertwined that nutcrackers evolved a special pouch for holding whitebark seeds, and nearly 100% of whitebark plantings are done by the nutcracker. But as disease threatens to eliminate whitebark from the landscape, this symbiotic relationship could collapse.

Without nutcrackers to plant their seeds, whitebark cannot survive. Glacier's cutting-edge Clark's nutcracker research is giving us new insights into these critical birds and their relationship with the imperiled pines. We need your help to keep it going, and today your gift will be matched 2x up to $6,000!

A Glacier biologist releases a Clark's nutcracker

Friend, I know you care about wilderness, which is why I'm writing. I don't want to imagine a Glacier without whitebark pine and Clark's nutcracker. Your gift today supports critical research and recovery efforts that can help the next generation of park visitors experience the thrill of seeing these sentinels of the high country.

Next time you're hiking up in Glacier's alpine and you see the sylvan stands of whitebark pine, you'll know that you are a part of securing the future of this keystone species.

With Gratitude,
 

Doug Mitchell Executive Director

P.S. Please help us meet our match and be a champion for whitebark pine!

We are the official fundraising partner for
Glacier National Park.

With your support, we provide funding for vital projects and programs that preserve and protect the park for future generations.​​​​​​

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