Winneshiek County Protectors wants to help preserve Monarch butterflies

The nationwide effort to preserve the Monarch butterfly has an additional ally.  Winneshiek County Protectors has begun distributing milkweed seeds in an effort to restore the habitat that the butterflies prefer. 

Protectors spokesperson Dick Jansen notes that four years ago a survey by NICC Calmar found 176 Monarch butterflies in its prairie property.  Last year, the survey found 11 Monarchs.

Jansen says some of the factors contributing to the decline in numbers of Monarch butterflies—deforestation in Mexico and increases in occurrence of severe weather—are outside the influence of Winneshiek County Protectors.  But when it comes to trying to restore milkweed plants, "We are going to do our part."

Free packets of milkweed seeds are now available at Java John's, Decorah Hatchery and Oneota Community Co-op in Decorah.  Jansen is hoping Decorah area residents will pick up the seeds and plant them in their yards, giving the butterflies a chance to feed off the milkweed seeds.