Cedar Park Helps Monarch Butterflies' Migration

CEDAR PARK, TX — The plight of Monarch butterflies has been widely documented given its increasingly challenged mass migration trajectory and resulting dwindling numbers. In the path of their annual trek from Mexico to Canada, Cedar Park is doing its part to help the winged visitors' remarkable journey.

The butterfly population has decreased exponentially over the past two decades as a result of diminished milkweed, which is the single host plant for caterpillars, city officials explained. As participant in the National Wildlife Federation's Monarch Recovery Initiative, the city limits the use of pesticide, limits mowing where possible to avoid destruction of milkweed and other nectar plans and embarks on planting of new milkweed plants.

City officials urge residents to do their part at their homes in order to help preserve and propagate the Monarch butterfly population. To that end, the city offered the following links:

• Monarch Butterflies: What you can do to help.
• Milkweed information sheet.
• Learn more at www.monarchjointventure.org.

Image via City of Cedar Park.