Monarch Butterflies are truly one of the marvels of the natural world. These silent little tufts of fuzz with delicate wings patterned like stained glass windows make an annual migration of up to 3,000 miles!
To survive, they need habitat in their breeding grounds throughout the U.S., places to rest and eat along their journey, and overwintering trees like the Oyamel Fir in Mexico and Monterey Pines on the California coast.
Most importantly, they need milkweeds, the only plant the larvae will feed on in the spring and summer.
Unfortunately, pesticides and loss of habitat have resulted in dramatic declines in Monarch numbers, so much so that these magnificent creatures are now candidates for the nation’s endangered species list.
Monarch Butterfly conservation is something with which everyone can help. Whether you have a small backyard or 40 acres, planting milkweeds and other native flowering plants can help this species avoid extinction. (For more information visit ArborDay.org to hear about 100 organizations with 160 concerned professionals who came together at Lied Lodge & Conference Center for the Monarch Conservation Partners meeting last fall.)
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