Help Record Monarch Butterfly Data

Fayette County is prime monarch butterfly territory. By the end of this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will make a preliminary decision on whether or not monarch butterflies should be placed on the endangered species list. This decision is informed in part by conservation efforts underway across the country, and everyone can support monarch health by planting habitat in their yards or on their land.

In addition to climate change, drought and more, habitat loss is one of the primary factors contributing to the population decline of these important pollinators. Monarch caterpillars rely on milkweed plants for food, and adult monarchs place their eggs on these plants while also relying on other nectar flowers for food as they migrate across the country throughout the year. Texas is an important stop on this migration path.

To support monarch health, we are encouraging landowners and farmers to plant monarch habitat and record their efforts in the HabiTally app, a free mobile app developed by Bayer and The Climate Corporation and donated to Iowa State University (ISU). The app is available in the Apple app store and enables users to enter data about their monarch conservation efforts. Information collected through the app is anonymous and shared directly with the USFWS to allow a better understanding of restoration projects taking place across the nation.

The USFWS is completing data collection at the end of May, so we encourage everyone who wants their monarch habitats to count towards this historic decision to record their efforts in HabiTally by May 31.