[ad_1]
Buckley Space Force Base is helping make their land a better home for monarch butterflies.
AURORA, Colo. — Buckley Space Force Base is helping make their land a better home for monarch butterflies in Aurora.
Each year, the butterflies migrate 2,000 miles across North America, many stopping in Colorado.
The Department of Defense is working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the non-profit “The Monarch Joint Venture” to restore 1,000 acres of shortgrass prairie habitat on the base to help monarch butterflies.
Monarch butterfly populations have declined more than 90 percent, according to Buckley Space Force Base. Climate change and habitat loss are two of the main reasons for the decline.
The butterflies have been found on the base where wildlife biologists are working to monitor and restore their habitat.
On the base, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists are planting milkweed. This is a favorite food for the butterflies and a place for them to lay their eggs.
“They’re currently a candidate species under the endangered species act and that’s one of the reasons why there’s a larger focus on them,” Mercy Manzanares with Monarch Joint Ventures said. “However, I like to think of monarchs as an umbrella species as a lot of the habitat restoration that we do for them can then benefit a multitude of species.”
Monarch butterflies are the only butterflies that make two-way migrations, like birds.
Anyone who would like to help monarchs can plant native Showy Milkweed at their homes. Plating native flowers is also important for the butterflies to get nectar. You can also participate in citizen science projects where anyone can help monitor and even tag Monarchs for research.
[ad_2]
Source link
