Monarch Conservation Effort Report highlights Iowans' hard work 10/5/2022 6:52:00 AM View Count 2932 AMES, Iowa -- Iowa has been steadily adding new habitat for monarch butterflies over the past couple of years. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium recently released its Monarch Conservation Effort Report, which offers a snapshot of monarch habitat establishment through 2020 in all 99 counties across the state.
NWF's Mayors Monarch Pledge is now accepting pledges for 2022 3/25/2022 11:40:00 AM View Count 1266 The Mayors Monarch Pledge is a program created by the National Wildlife Federation to encourage mayors and their communities to take a pledge to help the dwindling Monarch Butterfly population.
Meet Phyllis Kimball, a Monarch Champion 6/22/2020 2:33:00 PM View Count 5612 Phyllis Kimball, of Creston, enrolled 160 acres in CRP pollinator mix in Ringgold County. Kimball had been away from the farm for more than two decades but returned to manage the day to day operations after an agreement with a local farmer was voided. What she found upon returning was failing terraces and trees that had taken over the valley. She stopped on the gravel road and cried at seeing what had happened to her land.
Iowans can do their part in helping the Monarch habitat grow 4/14/2020 2:21:00 PM View Count 5877 The recent news from the World Wildlife Fund and Mexico’s Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas on monarch wintering numbers was an eye opener – the butterflies covered an estimated seven acres of forest canopy in Mexico – less than half of last year’s population. Experts estimate a long-term average of 15 acres of occupied forest canopy is necessary to sustain the eastern North America monarch population.
6 ways to help monarchs in your own backyard 7/5/2019 4:52:00 PM View Count 11007 One of the most recognized pollinators, monarchs travel more than 3,000 miles each year to come visit Iowa for the summer. With declining numbers over the last decade, here are some ways you can help these beautiful orange and black butterflies:
As monarchs migrate northward, experts ask Iowans to keep habitat in mind 5/7/2019 2:35:00 PM View Count 3292 AMES, Iowa – Monarch butterflies are fluttering this way, and, with some luck, they’ll be more plentiful than in previous years when they reach Iowa later this spring.
New monarch numbers encouraging: Conservation efforts in Iowa contribute to long-term recovery 2/12/2019 12:01:00 PM View Count 5074 AMES, Iowa — This week, the World Wildlife Fund released its 2018-2019 overwintering monarch population report. Adult monarch butterflies covered approximately 15 acres of forest canopy in Mexico, a doubling of last year’s population, and a level not seen since 10 years ago.
New plan aims to reverse monarch butterfly decline 5/15/2018 12:03:00 PM View Count 5053 The Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) welcomes public comments through May 31 on a draft conservation plan that provides a blueprint for reversing the decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population.
Iowa Sets Goal for Monarch Conservation 3/13/2018 2:27:00 PM View Count 7887 The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium has set a goal of acres devoted to monarch butterfly habitat in the state by 2038.
Blank Park Zoo Monarch Festival 9/12/2017 2:53:00 PM View Count 3337 A celebration of the monarch’s journey from Canada, through Iowa, to Mexico, will be held Sept. 17, from Noon to 4 p.m., at Blank Park Zoo, in Des Moines.
Spreading monarch-saving seed balls 9/6/2017 9:30:00 AM View Count 16528 Milkweed Matters began in 2014 when group founder Kelly Guilbeau began throwing loose milkweed seeds along the RAGBRAI route. The following year, seed ball dispersal began with 2,000 thrown during the ride in collaboration with another organization; Monarchs in Eastern Iowa. Last year the number of seed balls jumped to 58,459—made at 79 different events statewide by 3,406 people.
Group mapping out way to save the monarch butterfly 2/28/2017 12:52:00 PM View Count 10612 The recent study by the Mexican government released on Feb. 9 found the monarch butterfly population wintering in Mexico dropped by 27 percent this year, returning its population to historically low levels.
Blank Park Zoo Monarch Festival 9/6/2016 1:30:00 PM View Count 4724 Come celebrate the monarch’s journey from Canada, through Iowa, to Mexico at the 2016 Monarch Festival on Sunday, September 18 from 12-4 p.m. at Blank Park Zoo, in Des Moines.
Plant.Grow.Fly. and Mayor Cownie Encourage Iowa’s Mayors to Sign Monarch Pledge 3/24/2016 8:50:00 AM View Count 11253 DES MOINES, Iowa (March 23, 2016) – Des Moines’ Mayor, Frank Cownie, became the first mayor in Iowa to take the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge.
Monarchs Embark on Nature’s Most Incredible Migration 9/9/2015 12:00:00 PM View Count 35406 As the days grow shorter and fall approaches, newly emerged monarch butterflies become restless. Although the bright orange- and black-winged insects currently visiting backyard flowerbeds may appear identical to those seen earlier in the summer, they are biologically different from all others. The group of adults currently flittering about are so unusual that scientists give them a special name—this year’s final crop of young are the annual super generation.
6 Nature Foolers: Can You Tell the Difference? 7/10/2015 8:54:00 AM View Count 18510 Mimicry is about more than flattery for these Iowa organisms. Looking similar to a dangerous model helps the mimics of these pairs avoid confrontation, predation and disturbance, particularly from animals that learn to pick a meal based on what its prey looks like. Can you tell the difference?