Save the Monarch Butterfly

I posted earlier about the current plight of the Monarch butterfly.  Today, I sent an e-mail to friends and family as a "call to arms."  I thought I'd repost it here.  Can't hurt.

I've been reading about the current -- and sadly on-going -- plight of the monarch butterfly.  While habitat decimation and pesticide use has greatly reduced their numbers over the past two decades, this year weather is the chief threat.  Their wintering grounds in Mexico have received overly-large shares of both snow and rain, killing up to 50% of the insect.  Many scientists believe that this massive calamity, mixed with the already-poor conditions with which humans have left them, may create a danger from which the species cannot come back.  However, those of you who live in the American Southwest, American South, and American Midwest can do your part to help save this marvelous creature... and it's easy to do.  Plant milkweed in your garden.

http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/

Monarch butterfly eggs are hatched on milkweed and it provides both food and, by absorbing natural toxins through eating the milkweed, the butterflies are provided a natural defense from predators.  There are a vast number of species of milkweed that are hardy enough to survive North American winters, coming back year-after-year, so that you only have to plant them once.  Plus, these plants seem quite pretty, so it is win-win.  So if you live in one of the areas mentioned above, consider planting a small area of milkweed at home and help save the Monarch butterfly.

http://www.butterflyencounters.com/milkweed/index.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/index.htm

For those of you who, like me, live in the Northeast part of the US, don't worry, you can do your part too... and those of you in the Midwest, South, and Southwest can take part in this as well.  Monarch butterflies spend their summers far to the Northeast and need to bulk up to make their amazing circle-of-life migration of thousands of miles each year.  Thus, they need food, which mean nectar-rich flowers on which to feed.  (They need these along their migration route in the Midwest, South, and Southwest, too.  Flying is hard work!)

http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/seed_kit.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/index.htm

One more thing, those of you who live in California, Colorado, and other Western states, don't feel left out.  There is a variety of Monarch that winters in California, summers in the Rocky Mountains, and that faces many of the same man-made dangers that its Eastern relative does.  Thus, you can help with milkweed and nectar way-stations in your gardens, too!

http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/spring.htm

Whether you love to garden yourself, want a "learning project" for your children, or just want to help out a beautiful little critter, this is a fun, easy way to play a role in saving an icon of our natural world. 

Thanks!

5 April 2010