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Monarch Conservation Effort Report highlights Iowans' hard work

Monarch Conservation Effort Report highlights Iowans' hard work

  • 10/5/2022 6:52:00 AM
  • View Count 3152
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.
Meet Phyllis Kimball, a Monarch Champion

Meet Phyllis Kimball, a Monarch Champion

  • 6/22/2020 2:33:00 PM
  • View Count 6427
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

Iowans can do their part in helping the Monarch habitat grow

  • 4/14/2020 2:21:00 PM
  • View Count 6331
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

6 ways to help monarchs in your own backyard

  • 7/5/2019 4:52:00 PM
  • View Count 11880
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:
New plan aims to reverse monarch butterfly decline

New plan aims to reverse monarch butterfly decline

  • 5/15/2018 12:03:00 PM
  • View Count 5216
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

Iowa Sets Goal for Monarch Conservation

  • 3/13/2018 2:27:00 PM
  • View Count 8169
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

Blank Park Zoo Monarch Festival

  • 9/12/2017 2:53:00 PM
  • View Count 3548
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

Spreading monarch-saving seed balls

  • 9/6/2017 9:30:00 AM
  • View Count 17044
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

Group mapping out way to save the monarch butterfly

  • 2/28/2017 12:52:00 PM
  • View Count 10817
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

Blank Park Zoo Monarch Festival

  • 9/6/2016 1:30:00 PM
  • View Count 4995
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.
Monarchs Embark on Nature’s Most Incredible Migration

Monarchs Embark on Nature’s Most Incredible Migration

  • 9/9/2015 12:00:00 PM
  • View Count 36820
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?

6 Nature Foolers: Can You Tell the Difference?

  • 7/10/2015 8:54:00 AM
  • View Count 20298
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?