Volunteers Needed to Support Monarch Butterflies

In response to continent-wide declines of monarch butterfly populations, Michigan Audubon is working to support monarchs and other pollinators on two local sanctuaries. Monarch Watch, a nonprofit focused on monarch butterfly education and conservation, recently granted Michigan Audubon over 900 milkweed seedlings to help support monarchs at Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary in Bellevue and Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary near Jackson. Monarch butterflies rely exclusively on milkweed to reproduce and raise caterpillars, so these plantings will provide much-needed breeding and foraging habitat.

Monarch butterflies are an important, unique part of Michigan’s ecosystems and Michigan Audubon is pleased to support this declining species on their sanctuaries. These milkweed seedlings will be planted within the ongoing habitat restoration areas at Bernard W. Baker and Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuaries. The milkweed plantings will enhance ongoing habitat restoration projects aimed at attracting grassland birds, encouraging native prairie plants, and supporting declining pollinator populations.

Volunteers are needed to assist with planting the milkweed seedlings. If you’d like to help with the milkweed plantings, please join us for an upcoming volunteer workday:

Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary on Friday, June 10 from 9am – 12pm

Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary on Saturday, June 18 from 9am – 12pm

At these workdays, Michigan Audubon will provide snacks, bottled water, and a limited supply of tools. Volunteers are encouraged to bring the following: watering can; gallons or buckets of water; gardening gloves; small rake, hand trowel or plug planter. Please dress for a morning in the outdoors: sunscreen, insect repellent, hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toe shoes/boots are recommended. For Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary in particular, please wear waterproof shoes or boots as most of the planting areas will be muddy.

Monarch Butterfly on milkweed by Mike Boyce (Monarch Buterflies)

The Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary parking lot is located on the north side of Seymour Road, across from 9011 Seymour Rd., Leoni Township, MI 49240. The Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary parking lot is located at 21145 Fifteen Mile Road, Bellevue, MI 49021.

Please contact Rachelle Roake at RRoake@michiganaudubon.org or call 517-580-7364 if you are interested in volunteering for this event.