#monarchmichigan

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The Monarch Butterflies Need Your Help

Monarch butterflies are the most recognizable and beloved butterflies in North and Central America. Millions of monarchs migrate across the United States; spending their summers in Michigan and winters in Mexico. Despite the small size of monarch butterflies and other insects, they play a very large role in human lives. Insects travel to flowering plants, drinking nectar, and transporting pollen. This results in a pollination service that is responsible for 1/3 of the world's food source.

Due to a loss of habitat, the eastern Monarch population has declined by 90%. Other pollinators are experiencing a decline as well. Bees, which pollinate one third of the world's food crops, have declined 50% in recent decades. However, these alarming declines have sparked conservation programs across the nation to take action. Efforts to protect pollinators and restore habitat have been rewarded with a steady increase in monarch populations over the last few years.

In 2014, President Obama announced the first comprehensive pollinator program ever created in the federal government. The Presidential Memorandum was a collaborative effort between organizations, agencies, and federal departments to raise awareness and provide assistance to pollinators.

Pollinator health begins with you. Join us in celebrating monarchs, bees, and all other pollinators by becoming aware and participating in the tremendous ongoing conservation efforts!

How You Can Help

There are many different ways for YOU to help monarchs and other important pollinators in Michigan!

Report your monarch sightings throughJourney North and Monarch Joint Venture.

Report your bee sightings through the Bee spotter and Bumble Bee Watch.

Learn how to help and stay up to date with the latest pollinator information - Michigan State University Extension

Learn about creating monarch habitat and planting native milkweed - Monarch Joint Venture

Six ways to save monarchs - National Wildlife Federation Blog

Citizen science: opportunities to study monarchs - Monarch Joint Venture

Make a donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund

Michigan Pollinator Gardening Tips

Michigan Pollinator Gardening Tips (Accessible)

Kids and Teachers

Learn more about monarchs and other important pollinators with these activities and resources:

Learn how to help and stay up to date with the latest pollinator information - Michigan State University Extension

Teaching about the Magnificent Monarch - Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Learn about creating monarch habitat and planting native milkweed - Monarch Joint Venture

Citizen science: opportunities to study monarchs - Monarch Joint Venture

School Yard Habitats program through National Wildlife Federation

Monarch Butterfly Info

Learn more about the monarch butterfly with the following resources:

Monarch Conservation - Xerces Society

Monarch Watch

Insects & Pollinators - US Department of Agriculture

Save the Monarch Butterfly - US Fish & Wildlife Service

Monarch Joint Venture resources

Monarch Butterfly Conservation Webinar Series - US Fish & Wildlife Service

Bee - Informed

Did you know globally there are more than 20,000 species of bees and nearly 3,500 species within the United States? Check out the links below for more about bees!

Bumble Bee Conservation - Xerces Society

Reversing Pollinator Decline is Key to Feeding the Future - US Department of Agriculture Blog

Bumble Bee Watch

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee: proposed listing as an endangered species - US Fish & Wildlife Service

Conservation Projects

What's the buzz? Learn all about current projects helping pollinators.

Pollinator Partnership

Monarch Joint Venture Projects

Michigan's Managed Pollinator Protection Plan

Protecting pollinators with cooperative action - Michigan Farm News

Michigan Monarch Strategy

Source: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/michigan-species/insects/monarch

#environmental education #protectourplanet #environmentaleducation #pollinatorgarden #pollinators #pollination #monarchwaystation #monarch butterfly #milkweed #monarch caterpillar #monarchmichigan #monarchwatch #climatechange