The U of M, Crookston Early Childhood Development Center preschoolers attached migration tags to the wings of nine monarch butterflies Thursday afternoon. The monarchs were brought in by preschooler Mckinley Isakson, who raised them from caterpillars at her home.
Monarch butterflies migrate over 3,000 miles to central Mexico to overwinter. Tagging these insects gives researchers a better understanding of the monarchs’ migration patterns and populations. The migration tags contain a specific number that identifies that individual monarch and tag. Once the data is recorded, the adhesive tag is placed on the monarch’s wing and released.
If you are interested in helping tag monarchs this Saturday, Aug. 28, stop by the Monarch Tagging Open House at the Red River Valley Natural History Area from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. It's located across U.S. Highway 2 and slightly south of the Crookston campus. For more information contact Laura Bell, Natural Resources, at lbell@umn.edu or 281-8131.
