MaryAnn Lepp was amazed by the abundance of monarchs undergoing their metamorphosis in her garden, observing 20 caterpillars feasting on her swamp milkweed in a single day this week. She is one of many Canadian monarch enthusiasts experiencing a surge in backyard milkweed patches flourishing due to wet and hot conditions on parts of the Prairie this summer.

Excitedly scanning her garden in La Broquerie, about 60 kilometers southeast of Winnipeg, Lepp exclaimed, “This is chrysalis No. 2… I’m so thrilled.” She noted an increase in butterfly sightings compared to previous years.

While experts cannot definitively attribute the boom to favorable weather, they acknowledge the influx of anecdotal reports of caterpillars, chrysalises, and monarch butterflies as a positive indication for the federally endangered species. Marika Olynyk, curator of the Living Prairie Museum, noted a significant presence of monarchs in Winnipeg throughout the summer.

Monarch butterflies feed on nectar from milkweed flowers, with the prairie museum showcasing various native plants that pollinators favor, including different milkweed varieties. However, during the caterpillar stage, monarchs exclusively consume milkweed leaves.

Despite efforts by individuals like Lepp to plant milkweed and native wildflowers, these plants remain scarce and localized due to the conversion of native grasslands into farmland. Habitat loss poses a significant threat to monarch populations, with tallgrass prairies, once abundant in North America, now largely disappeared.

In response to calls for increased protection, the monarch was classified as endangered in 2016 by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, leading to legal measures to safeguard the species. Efforts to estimate monarch populations rely on monitoring wintering grounds in Mexico.

While monarch populations have shown positive signs, other endangered species, such as the Poweshiek skipperling, face even greater risks of extinction. The Assiniboine Park Zoo plays a crucial role in breeding and releasing Poweshiek skipperlings to bolster their numbers.

Laura Burns, conservation programs manager at the zoo, highlighted the progress made in conserving the Poweshiek skipperling population, emphasizing the importance of favorable weather conditions in supporting butterfly populations. Zoo staff are set to assist monarchs further by tracking their migration through radio transmitters as part of a Canadian Wildlife Service initiative.

Enthusiasts like Lepp remain dedicated to nurturing caterpillars and chrysalises, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation and fostering a harmonious relationship with nature.