Latest news with #Karnerblue
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin legislators, DNR move to protect pollinators
A federally endangered gyne, or "future queen", rusty patched bumble bee. (Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) As summer begins, fields, forests, prairies, riverwalks and gardens across Wisconsin come alive with an array of life. Preserving biodiversity in the Badger State is a multi-faceted effort, merging legislative efforts with organized social gatherings to find creative solutions. Late last week, a package of bills was introduced to help shore up protections for pollinators. The package of seven bills has a range of policy objectives including: Requiring state agencies and government entities to give preference to use native prairie and forage plants to benefit pollinators. Designating June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin. Allowing a political subdivision to regulate pesticides for the purpose of protecting pollinators and pollinator habitats. Prohibiting people who sell plants from advertising or labeling the plants as good for pollinators if they are treated with certain insecticides. Establishing a 'Protect Pollinators' license plate program, similar to other conservation-focused license plate programs. Prohibiting the DNR from using any insecticide from the neonicotinoid class near any pollinator habitat located on DNR-maintained land. Designating Rusty Patched Bumble Bee as the state native insect and requiring the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information concerning that designation. The bills were announced in Menasha by Reps Lee Snodgrass (D- Appleton) and Vincent Miresse (D- Stevens Point). Luke Schiller, executive director of the Heckrodt Wetland Reserve and Sara Walling, Clean Wisconsin's water program director, attended the announcement. Pollinators are important not only to ecosystems, but also to the global economy. According to an article in Forbes, pollinators contribute between $235 billion and $577 billion in global food production. Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes and include bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and certain species of bats. Decades of overusing pesticides and habitat destruction have contributed to staggering declines in pollinator populations across the globe, and throughout ecosystems. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers to monitor one of those pollinators, the Karner blue butterfly. Volunteers have been crucial in tracking the endangered butterfly since 2018. Although the butterflies are found from Minnesota to Maine to Canada, Wisconsin has the largest remaining population. Karner Blue Butterflies are threatened by habitat loss fragmenting their range into isolated pockets and climate change. Open barrens, savannas and prairies are still abundant in Wisconsin, and are ideal habitats for the butterfly. 'Volunteers will be able to identify Karner blue butterflies and help us collect data to look at how this species moves around the landscape over time,' Chelsea Weinzinger the DNR's Karner blue butterfly recovery coordinator said in a statement. 'Collecting this information improves our data and gives us a better statewide picture of how this species is faring.' The Karner is related to the northern blue butterfly, which some DNR researchers say they haven't seen since 2010 in Wisconsin. Field trip opportunities are also available through the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. The field trips occur across the state and range from paddling wetland habitats to joining researchers in Beaver Creek Reserve to learn about the state's smallest falcon species. Several field trips are also occurring in the Milwaukee-area, offering people the chance to canoe under tree canopies on the Milwaukee River, traverse urban habitats, explore hardwood forests and wetlands in the Mequon Nature Preserve and much more. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts celebrate dramatic comeback of rare species in unlikely location: 'We've preserved the habitat'
Across the United States, butterfly populations are shrinking. A massive study published by the journal Science analyzed data from over 76,000 surveys and found that butterfly populations dropped 22% between 2000 and 2020. Of the 554 species studied, two-thirds declined by more than 10%. But in one small corner of New York, a rare species is proving that recovery is possible. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported that the Karner blue butterfly, once on the brink of local extinction, is making a comeback — thanks to science, fire, and sheer determination. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve, a rare fire-dependent ecosystem, was once a stronghold for the Karner blue. The insect's survival hinges on wild blue lupine, the only plant its caterpillars can eat. Lupine thrives in sandy soil and partial shade, making New York's pine barrens an ideal habitat. However, decades of fire suppression have allowed other species to take over, crowding out the lupine and leaving the butterflies with nowhere to go. Conservationists refused to let that be the end of the story. By restoring controlled burns to the landscape, they revived the lupine — and with it, the Karner blue. A population that had dwindled to just 200 butterflies locally has now rebounded to between 10,000 and 20,000. "We've preserved the habitat for the species so our populations have responded positively," said Steven P. Campbell, a conservation biologist with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. Butterflies are still in trouble nationwide, though. Habitat loss remains their biggest threat, as agriculture and urban sprawl wipe out essential landscapes. Even specialized ecosystems like pine barrens have suffered from degradation. The challenges don't stop there. Pesticide use continues to harm butterfly populations, and increasing global temperatures present an ever-growing threat. "We're trying to get our populations up to mitigate against the effect of climate change," Campbell explained. Because butterflies can reproduce quickly under the right conditions, bolstering their numbers now could help them survive future environmental shifts. Do you worry about pesticides in your food? All the time Sometimes Not really I only eat organic Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While large-scale conservation efforts are essential, individuals can also make a difference. Planting native flowers, cutting back on pesticides, and letting sections of a lawn grow wild can create essential habitats. "Not using pesticides in your yard can go a long way," Campbell pointed out. Pollinator gardens filled with violets, butterfly weed, goldenrod, and azalea not only support butterflies but also add vibrant color to outdoor spaces. Planting milkweed, for example, provides critical food for monarch butterflies, which were recommended for federal protection in December 2024. Butterflies play a crucial role in pollination and maintaining healthy ecosystems. Their decline is a warning, but the Karner blue's recovery proves that with the right intervention, nature can bounce back. Whether through large-scale conservation projects or small changes in backyard gardens, there's still time to turn the tide. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
