Iowans are asked to be on the lookout for groups of monarch butterflies that might be congregating in our trees and yards as the vital, orange-and-black insects begin to make the long journey south to Mexico for the winter. Mykayla Hagaman, Program Specialist at the Ames-based Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, says now is the time when Iowans will start seeing monarch roosts and it would be helpful if people would document them.
Monarchs by the millions are flitting across Iowa and the Midwest now and will continue their flight from late August through early October. Hagaman says there’s still a lot we don’t know about these fragile creatures and Iowans can help by reporting it when they spot roosts of the important pollinators.
If you spot a monarch roost, Hagaman asks that you note the location, the date, what sorts of trees or plants the butterflies are on, and the surrounding landscape. Also, how many are there?
Hagaman says all reported data will remain anonymous. Monarch populations have declined significantly in recent decades due to factors like habitat loss and extreme weather. She says Iowa plays a crucial role in their migration corridor, and by documenting roosting sites, landowners are directly contributing to the science that guides conservation strategies at home and across the continent.
