HABITAT RESTORATION
Monarch habitat restoration repairs areas that have been lost due to agricultural practices, mining, logging, road building, or development that alters natural ecosystems. Habitat destruction is one of the leading causes for a species of plants or animals to be threatened with extinction. The monarch butterfly is one such species.
Once abundant across the migratory path from Mexico to Canada, and the Western migration to California, the loss of habitat has severely diminished its population. Monarchs need milkweed intermingled with other native grasses and nectar plants to complete its iconic migration. Milkweed is the only plant that female monarch lay their eggs on and the sole food source of their caterpillars, who eat voraciously day and night on milkweed leaves. Unlike the caterpillars, adult monarchs need a continuous nectar supply that can range from a large number of floral sources.
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Prairies and grasslands are disappearing at an alarming rate across the country and, in some states, have less than 1% of their original ecosystems. This habitat destruction alters abundance and distribution of monarchs and other pollinators which have become a candidate for listing on the Endangered Species Act.
Restoring natural habitats facilitate the return of wildlife to disturbed areas which boosts recreational activities such as hiking, hunting, and fishing in rural, suburban, and urban communities alike.
Restored grasslands and prairies bring additional environmental benefits such as controlling soil erosion and boosting water quality in streams and lakes which helps ensure clean drinking water, control floods, and maintain healthy fish and amphibian populations. When a community has healthy monarch butterfly habitat, all wildlife benefits.
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Monarch Flyway specializes in supplying milkweed seed for large Monarch habitat restoration projects or to wildflower seed companies pursuing the restoration of healthy ecosystems. Contact us if you need milkweed seed or if you want to discuss your project with our team.
Make a positive difference in the monarch and pollinator habitat that surrounds you. Even small actions, like planting milkweed in your yard or business campus help more than you might think. Proactive and passionate people like you will help get the monarch migration back to healthy levels again. Keep educating, advocating, protecting and planting milkweed and biodiversity. Thank you for your efforts!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do to help preserve milkweed?
Locate local milkweed patches and inform people about their importance. From roadways to parks, agricultural lands and more, anywhere you see milkweed is monarch butterfly habitat.
What types of seed do you have?
We work with Common and Showy Milkweed. While we work within natural landscapes, we have not collected other milkweed, grass, or forb seeds. We normally sell our milkweed seed to Native Plant Nurseries and Habitat Restoration companies in quantities of 100# or more.