Help monarchs, bees and other pollinators

This article was originally published by Michigan Farm News on April 27, 2020 and can be accessed here.

Monarch butterflies, bees and other insects — despite their small size — play a very large role in humans’ lives as they travel to flowering plants, drinking nectar and transporting pollen. Pollinators like butterflies and bees are responsible for approximately one-third of the world’s food source.

Due to a loss of habitat, the eastern monarch butterfly population has declined by 90% over the last 20 years, and bees have declined 50% in recent decades. These alarming drops have sparked conservation programs across the nation to take action, and thanks to efforts to protect pollinators and restore habitat, monarch populations have increased steadily over the last few years.

There are a variety of ways you can help monarchs and other important pollinators in Michigan, including becoming aware of and participating in ongoing conservation efforts.

Some ideas for how you can get involved:

• Make your garden a great place for pollinators. See Michigan pollinator gardening tips (accessible version of Michigan pollinator gardening tips).

• Learn about creating monarch habitat and planting native milkweed.

• Learn how to help and stay up to date with the latest pollinator information from Michigan State University Extension.

• Report your monarch sightings through Journey North and Monarch Joint Venture.

• Report your bee sightings through the Bee spotter and Bumble Bee Watch.

• Become a citizen scientist and take part in one of many opportunities to study monarchs.

• Check out more resources on the DNR’s monarch butterfly page.