Effort Launched To Create 'Butterfly Highway' From MN To Texas
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There is a national effort to help rebuild the monarch butterfly population, and it is starting here in Minnesota.
The number of monarchs has decreased by more than 90 percent since the 1990s, which is mostly due to the use of pesticides and weed killer.
The pollinating butterflies rely on milkweed plants to survive. They lay their eggs on the plant, which is also their main source of food.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials, along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, announced plans Thursday to tag and track the monarchs.
The national effort will also plant milkweed along Interstate 35 from Minnesota to Texas, making a "butterfly highway."
"As we know, it's not easy for this little monarch butterfly to fly all the way from Canada down to Mexico. And it takes actually several generations, it's an incredible story. And if that monarch's going to try so hard to get down there, I think we can help a little bit," Klobuchar said.
She says planting milkweed is something we all can do in our backyards to help the monarchs.