By Natalie Maughan
Do you remember last fall watching all the monarch butterflies migrate south through the Des Moines area? Just about any time you looked outside or spent time in the yard you could catch one of these majestic creatures fluttering through the air. Last fall our family took a class and learned about the migration of the monarch and learned how to tag them to help collect data as they migrate towards Mexico. I thought I’d share some of the information we learned as well as some sources to turn to so that your family can help be a part of the solution to help save the monarch butterflies. It’s a pretty neat experience too!
Due to urban development in the US and illegal deforestation in Mexico the numbers of monarch butterflies have drastically reduced just in the last 20 years. It would be so sad if monarch butterflies became a thing of the past. Fortunately, there are a few initiatives to help raise awareness of monarch migration and help restore their numbers so that they can not only survive but thrive in abundance. Monarch tagging is one way you and I can help save the monarchs.
What is Monarch Tagging?
Monarch tagging is a way for researchers to follow the migration patterns of monarch butterflies to see what paths they take and help try to keep track of numbers. “Tagging” a monarch involves catching the butterfly in a net, carefully handling it following specific instructions, placing a small identification sticker on the wing and then releasing the butterfly back into the wild. A spreadsheet is used to keep track of information like location and date.
Tagging monarch butterflies is fairly easy but it needs to be done carefully and with precision so that you don’t end up harming the butterfly in the process. I’d say that most ages can tag the butterflies, but adult help is definitely needed with younger hands to help protect the monarch’s wings. A good source to turn to for help is Monarchwatch.org. This organization is working in many different ways to help educate people on ways to protect the species and how to handle them correctly. Tagging kits can be purchased from their site as well. I’d order now so you have the stickers in plenty of time.
How to Tag a Monarch Butterfly
PLEASE, before you catch a butterfly and try to handle it make sure to watch the instructional video on how to correctly handle the butterfly without injuring it. In order to tag the monarchs, you must catch them in a butterfly net first. Once caught, hold the wings together at the base of the wings using your thumb and forefinger. The tag is a small round sticker that needs to be placed in a specific spot on their wing. This is the part that gets tricky because if you try to move the sticker you will end up ripping the wing.
The website provides an online spreadsheet for you to enter all the necessary information to make the tracking more accurate. They need information such as your name, address, location of where you caught the butterfly, date and time. Once tagged, release him back into the wild to continue his trek south.
So, what happens once they are tagged?
Once you place the sticker on the butterfly and release him back into the sky he will continue his route south. Mother Nature takes over at that point. Hopefully the butterfly makes his full flight to Mexico safe and sound. As we know, not all the butterflies are going to survive. If someone happens to find a tagged butterfly, they are encouraged to go online to Monarch Watch Tag Recovery and enter location and any other needed data to see to migration pattern of that specific monarch. Maybe someone found the monarch in Texas and it’s still en route to Mexico. In that case, they should release it. Maybe they found one that didn’t survive; that information is still needed.
Tagging these beautiful creatures is not only fun for your family but it’s so helpful to restore their numbers and help researchers learn more about their migration patterns. So, order your tagging kit, watch the instructional videos and keep an eye out for the monarchs over the next month or two as they head for warmer climates for the winter.
Find Monarch tagging events hosted by Parks and Recreation Departments and County Conservation offices on our Calendar. And, find more things to do in our Fall Fun Guide.
