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In a recent issue of the New York Times an article titled “In the Rockies, Pines Die and Bears Feel It” (Charles Petit, NYT Jan. 30, 2007).  My curiosity was obviously peeked as many of the national parks are in this part of the country including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier. 

The article talks about the fact that global warming will reduce acreage that has the kind of cold and altitude climate needed where a tree, the whitebark pine, can grow and thrive. This is a problem.  As with everything in nature, there is more at stake than the extinction of the whitebark pine.  Not only does the gnarled and bushy whitebark pine anchor the timberline in much of the West. They hold the soil for other vegetation to get a foothold, trapping snow, therefore prolonging the spring runoff.

In addition there are many types of animals that rely on the nutrition provided by the pine nuts of this particular pine tree; including nutcracker birds, red squirrels, and grizzly bears.  In fact it seems the grizzly, which is facing being taken off the endangered species list in coming months, relies on the nuts as a mainstay of their diets during late summer and early fall.  The nuts provide fat that is necessary to sustain the bears throughout the winter months.  This is a crisis and bear supporters are already lining up to oppose the near-certain delisting.

Why does this matter to us?  If you’ve ever watched an eagle gliding across the sky when you walk out your front door you know that the moment is priceless.  In the Rocky Mountains we see this on a fairly regular basis, now.  This was not always the case, eagles were once almost gone, as were wolves, and grizzly bears.  They need to be protected for the sake of keeping the ecosystem regular and working to its full capacity.  All life depends on each other.  Though humans can do a lot of simulate what nature gives, this will not always be the case and for all our technology nature can not be duplicated to the highest efficiency. 

During this time of fragile ecosystems we need to continue to protect the wildlife that is left.  We need to be aware and each do our part in making it happen.