Monarchs: Helping a Species Helps an Ecosystem
8/17/2022. The migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is one of the most iconic insects and one for which we all likely have fond memories. Unfortunately, this beautiful pollinator has now been added to the “Red List”, or considered endangered, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Although the monarch butterfly is not yet listed as endangered on a federal or state level, this should still be considered a wake-up call. Monarchs have experienced decline, and there is work to be done to protect Minnesota’s state butterfly.
Great River Greening’s Work to Protect Monarchs
Alongside our volunteers, Great River Greening restores more than 1,000 acres of pollinator habitat each year. This includes working to enhance existing habitat as well as creating new pollinator habitat—both of which will specifically help the monarch butterfly.
For example, our efforts include planting a wide variety of milkweed species, which is the ONLY plant that monarch caterpillars eat.
Through the help of volunteers and the public, our team strengthens critical habitat and constantly evolves our restoration efforts to best help pollinating insects.
Why are Monarchs important?
Monarch butterflies migrate all the way from Mexico to Minnesota (and even farther north to Canada) and back every year, covering around 2,500 miles on that trip. As they travel, the butterflies act as crucial pollinators for a wide range of blooming plants along the way.
As monarch populations decline, impacts are felt at both the small-scale and large-scale. On the local scale, the habitats monarchs migrate through are affected including local food webs and the pollination of flowers they feed on. On a larger scale, we see their decline in numbers as a sign that other pollinator species throughout the country may face similar issues unless we act on supporting native plants and every other species that is connected down the line.
How You Can Make a Difference
Thankfully, you can make a difference when it comes to protecting monarch butterflies. Here are four ways you can help:
Volunteer. Join Great River Greening at one of our many upcoming events. For example, you can help us enhance the native prairie on National Public Lands Day on September 24 at Lebanon Hills Regional Park or plant milkweed at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary on September 17.
Collect Milkweed Seeds. Stay tuned for more details, but you can help us this fall during Great River Greening’s upcoming Milkweed Seed Drive.
Create Habitat. You can plant milkweed—whether that’s in your own personal garden, a community garden, or your corporate campus, every small patch is a potential place for monarchs to lay eggs, feed, or metamorphose from caterpillars to butterflies. Learn more about planting milkweed here.
Be a Community Scientist. You can report your monarch sightings to community science organizations like iNaturalist or Monarch Joint Venture. Your observations let organizations like Great River Greening know where help is needed or where efforts to save pollinators are working.
We’ve got a lot of work to do to support monarch butterflies, but it’s worth it to see that flutter of orange wings in the garden.
Update: This post was updated on 10/30/2023 to include additional links to resources about planting milkweed.
Photo Credits:
Monarch butterfly on prairie blazing star (Becca Tucker).
Monarch caterpillar on milkweed (Becca Tucker).
Milkweed “podcast” event at Fish Creek (National Fish & Wildlife Foundation).
Monarch butterfly at Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob (unknown).
Funding/Sponsors: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) (for the milkweed seed drive).