Each spring, the eastern population of monarch butterflies begin their journey north from Mexico to spread across the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. This 3,000+ mile journey is fraught with challenges. Urbanization and development, pesticide use, habitat destruction, and predation are all factors that make the monarch’s journey all that more amazing. It takes three to four generations of monarch butterflies to complete the round trip migration, and they need unique habitat characteristics to complete their life cycle. Now is the time to start seeing monarchs! It’s also a great time to learn about ways that we can foster those special habitat features in our own backyards and communities.
Things You Can Do to Help the Monarch
Want to help the monarch butterfly? Here’s a list of five things you can do to help the monarch this year!
- Report your spring sightings at Journey North.
- Plant milkweed and other monarch friendly plants in your garden. List here.
- Work in your community to build support for the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge.
- Become a Butterfly Hero with the National Wildlife Federation.
- Share Illinois Monarch Projects “Mowing Guidelines for Pollinators” with your neighbors and local municipality.
