[Pollinator] Response to "MONARCH help" message about rearing monarchs

[Nancy Wahl-Scheurich]

While I know that folks who are rearing monarchs are doing this with the very best of intentions, it’s my understanding from working with several different monarch expert organizations that rearing can actually have negative effects on natural populations because it can disrupt normal migration patterns.  We need to address the causes of monarch decline, which we know are habitat loss/degradation, climate change and pesticide exposure.  Rearing monarchs will not solve these problems, and it would be great if the people who are currently rearing monarchs, who clearly care about the species, could focus on practices that we know will help the natural population rebound.  A great way to start would be to plant native milkweed and nectar plants!

Another important thing to consider is that in California, it is against the law to rear monarchs without a Scientific Collection Permit.

Nancy
From: Pollinator <pollinator-bounces+nancy-wahlscheurich=carcd.org at lists.sonic.net<mailto:carcd.org at lists.sonic.net>> on behalf of Laurie Adams <lda at pollinator.org<mailto:lda at pollinator.org>>
Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 9:29 AM
To: pollinator at lists.sonic.net<mailto:pollinator at lists.sonic.net> <pollinator at lists.sonic.net<mailto:pollinator at lists.sonic.net>>
Subject: [Pollinator] Question about rearing monarchs in CA
From: butterflyrelease at flutterbyexhibits.com<mailto:butterflyrelease at flutterbyexhibits.com>
<butterflyrelease at flutterbyexhibits.com<mailto:butterflyrelease at flutterbyexhibits.com>>
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 12:14 PM

Subject: MONARCH help

Hello

My name is Robert Stroud, I have been working with education with Monarchs
for years. I used to get my Monarch butterflies from UTTERBACK up until
2016. John Utterback produced 55 thousand Monarchs each year on the east
bay of San Fransisco. He retired. Since he retired the Monarch population
has been dropping in the hibernation migration areas along the coast of
California. I think this last year they counted 2000 Monarchs left. This
is dire- something needs to happen. I think Utterback had a HUGE impact
with the western Monarchs- this cannot be a coincidence.

I am trying to recreate Utterback's business, so I am contacting anyone
who can lead me to funds (grants etc) to get a Monarch hatchery up and
running again.

Any suggestion will help

Robert Stroud
flutthttp://flutterbyexhibits.com<http://flutterbyexhibits.com/>
801 347 3331



____________________
Nancy Wahl-Scheurich
Project Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD)
801 K Street, MS 14-15, Sacramento, CA 95814
Mobile: (831) 287-5363
Office: (916) 457-7904
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