Monarch butterflies boom across the Prairies

While populations naturally fluctuate between years, researchers hope the increased presence will provide valuable insights into how important the Prairies are for monarch conservation and recovery, and researchers are also tracking their migration south.

Researchers are tagging monarch butterflies in Saskatchewan to track their remarkable migration and better understand their use of the Prairies. Tiny tags allow scientists to follow butterflies travelling thousands of kilometres south towards Mexico in real time, helping identify important conservation areas. Ecologist Tyler Flockhart hopes to tag 30 butterflies before the season ends, as some have already begun migrating south.