Ask Mr. Answer Person: Why are milkweeds being pulled out of the Decorah Prairie?

Linda e-mails: Do you know who I could contact in the Decorah Friends of the Prairie organization about a question?  I noticed that piles and piles of milkweeds have been pulled up in the Butterfly Garden and I'm wondering why weeders are pulling up the host plant of the monarch butterfly.  Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed and monarch caterpillars eat milkweed exclusively, and I was hoping to encourage the planting of more milkweed!  Milkweed is dying out throughout its range because of roadside spraying and loss of habitat due to development."

Despite his name, Mr. Answer Person is not a milkweed expert!  However, he does know the correct person to contact for the Decorah Friends of the Prairie--give Decorah Parks & Recreation Department Director Rick Edwards a call at 382-4158 and he'll put you in contact with the Friends of the Prairie group.