PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. — The monarch butterfly population has decreased over the last several years.
One Ozaukee County farm is hoping to reverse the trend and increase the species’ chances of survival.
Deanna Karrels searches for monarch butterflies at Lake Breeze Farms in Port Washington.
Her fascination began more than 20 years ago when one of her students brought some to her classroom.
“I have been all over the area looking for monarchs to help raise. Raise them to adulthood as butterflies and from that point, we will release them back into the wild to give them a better chance to survive,” said Karrels.
Since the monarch butterfly has only a 5% chance of reaching adulthood, Karrels said they came up with an idea to help increase that survival rate.
They set aside part of the farm exclusively for pollinator plants.
“We planted the pollinator plot, which allows me to have them closer by, instead of having to drive around, looking for the monarchs as I go,” said Karrels.
The result was that Karrels started to see more monarch caterpillars and monarch butterflies.
“This past summer, my 19-year-old was with me, looking for monarchs and helping raise them. It became more of a family thing,” said Karrels. “It’s so nice to be able to see them fly around here.”
However, monarch butterflies are far from the only wildlife that’s drawn to the pollinator plot.
Thelma Heidl-Baker is a soil conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She said the wide range of insects this environment attracts also helps the farm’s crops.
“A whole host of other insects that are beneficial for pest management,” said Heidl-Baker. “So, I see out here we have some hover flies or fireflies. They look like beamer mix and they can pollinators, but they are also good for pest management.”
These pollinators are also good for soil health and water quality.
“What you see here is just as big underground. Why we like that is that it keeps the soil in place, less erosion,” said Katie Vogeler, director of Ozaukee County Land and Water Management. “This increases water infiltration and water holding capacity. Unlike this year, we are in a drought year, but when we do get those heavy rains, this living plot here will take in so much moisture.”
It all comes back to keeping the monarch butterflies thriving.
Karrels said she enjoys bringing monarch butterflies to her classroom.
“They get to see them up close. They get to have them crawl on them and just be able to experience nature in a way that they probably haven’t before,” said Karrels.
She is not only happy to increase the monarch butterflies’ chance of survival but also to create an environment that helps Lake Breeze Farms thrive a bit more.
