Fall is known for the weather cooling, the leaves changing colors, and in Dinosaur National Monument, it’s time to keep an eye out for Monarch butterflies. Fall is the peak migration time for Monarchs as they make their way to overwintering sites in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. Dinosaur National Monument has been conducting surveys and tagging efforts for the last two years hoping to understand the butterflies travelling through the Rocky Mountains, the Green River, and the Yampa River. Over 200 Monarchs have been tagged with a small round sticker attached to the butterfly’s wing. On the sticker is a unique identifier and an email address to report a sighting. As Monarchs migrate, they stop at waystations with food (nectar rich flowers), water (even a puddle works), and shelter (trees or shrubs) before reaching their winter destination. Some Monarch hot spots in Dinosaur National Monument include the Josie Morris Cabin area and Echo Park. Be sure to enjoy this fall tradition, either by watching the Monarchs or by helping to tag some by reaching out to the Southwest Monarch Study and the Latino Heritage Internship Program to learn how.
