Raising Monarchs - 2024 First Release (Help The Monarch Butterfly)

[@ShellyBHappy]

MrLundScience! We are in Minnesota, and this is our 3rd year raising Monarch's. May was a BOOMING month for us as we found 63 eggs before June 1st! Amazing!! As of July 3rd we are up to 71 eggs found, and, have successfully released approximately 62 thus far. (lost a few for various reasons). Finding eggs has severely tapered off, and we have been having more rain than usual. Perhaps that's part of why. We have tripled the milkweed in our yard (maybe 50 plants), and we are working on a pollinator garden. Thank you for sparking interest and for the education so we could help raise the population! This should be a record year for us with such a strong start! (Year 1= 29,Year 2= 127). Can't wait to see how many we successfully release this year!

[@MrLundScience]

Hey, GREAT job with 50+ plants in your yard. That is the kind of effort that makes the difference. So awesome to hear! And sounds like with that many plants, your numbers are easily handled. Thank you for doing what you can to take the information and use it!

[@julie-nm6lv]

I only had and saw one female this year here in Wisconsin I did get 4 eggs, I have lots of Milkweed just no Monarchs. You have had a great Monarch season-good for you

[@malloryg4251]

Hi Rich! I discovered your videos a month ago, where you discuss how to raise Monarch caterpillars and then how to release the butterflies. You are a fantastic teacher and I've learned so much. I wish I had seen your videos sooner. I'm in SoCal and we get sooooo many Monarchs around here. I purchased two Milkweed plants from my local nursery back in June, foolishly thinking that it would be sufficient. It was not! This is my first time raising and releasing Monarchs, so I had no idea what I was doing. The ravenous caterpillars decimated my two plants and I ended up having to steal some from my neighbors! Luckily, people around here enjoy butterflies and I've found tons of Milkweed. I have 3 more chrysalides waiting to emerge, a mature caterpillar and a baby one that I discovered outside yesterday. Can't believe they're still hatching! Thank you so much for your help and enthusiasm. Can't wait to share this beautiful experience with my baby girl once she gets a bit older : )

[@vojteckpor6589]

I’ve been raising monarch butterflies too, I’m at the moment waiting for approximately 400 butterflies

[@MrLundScience]

That must be a strong effort. One summer, I reared 300+, but not 400. The 300+ was intense enough with food sourcing and sanitation for this guy. Good luck with your season!

[@Monarch_girl]

That's awesome. I remember releasing 160+, but that was a rough season, lol. A lot of work trying to find food. I really enjoyed it, though. Good luck.

[@franceshendry5656]

I am encouraged, because I spotted my first Monarch June 21st. That's early for me, (Southern Ontario.) I'll take it as a good omen. Thanks for the update.

[@MrLundScience]

As there are some from Ontario saying they haven't seen any, I definitely appreciate you letting us know you saw one already. That's awesome!

[@Laser-Cat]

I'm in Ontario and found 14 eggs today. You are on the right track.

[@Tangobutton]

That was a great shot with the puppy watching the monarch fly off. And hey! I saw a Viceroy on my milkweed 2 days ago at the south tip of Ann Arbor. And saw my first monarch yesterday. My milkweed garden is the best it's ever been so hoping for eggs this week.

[@MrLundScience]

All of that sounds like great news! I've always wanted to find Viceroy eggs (or even just one) and give that species a try. I love their mimicry, both as bird dung in early caterpillar instars, and of course as a Monarch when it's an adult. Great to hear of sightings!

[@Stevelemontrudy]

Our butterfly garden is bigger and better than ever. My wife and I started planting common milkweed in 5 gal buckets years ago cuz of you and we now have a big booming pollinator garden. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@MrLundScience]

That's so very cool! Great innovation with the buckets too. Thank you for taking the time and efforts to plant milkweed. It's the true way to help the most!

[@heatherruby5986]

Yeah 10 years 🎉 I struggled with planting common milkweed for 2 years. Last year I purchased swamp milkweed to feed my catipillars after losing medow milkweed to invasive johnson grass. The swamp milkweed that I planted and left in the nursery pot came back this year. I also feel luck as I have 3 catipillars which seems earlier than the past 2 years. I live in Md but a show on all the various types of milkweed, especially for those who need to grow in containers might inspire city balcony folks to join the cause. Another problem our county has milkweed planted in medium strips and randomly cuts it down🙈 spraying is another concern. Potential topics for future videos 💕 congratulations 🎉 and THANKS ❣️

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings! Oh, yes, a medium strip topic is something that I've thought about addressing in an episode before. Thing is, I don't want to just address it if I don't have a solution, and really, the solution would involve getting into some, likely, governmental channels (if we are talking about state or federal roads/highways). If I haven't done it myself, I'd feel pretentious trying to tell others to give it a shot...and I have yet to cross that bridge yet. 😉 Still, it is a great idea, and something that matters, as when the new stalks sprout up after a mow, they are likely candidates for females to lay eggs on, as they do seem to prefer young new sprouts that are without pests/predators and have more tender leaves. At any rate, I hope your season is going well, and thank you for checking in, and your conservation efforts!

[@zachpetersen9425]

I just found a cat and 3 eggs on July 1st, 2024 in Machesney Park, IL

[@MrLundScience]

Great find! Congrats!

[@jillmaine6882]

6:53 commercial. I've released and raised quite a few. In central Florida. St Petersburg. Love it. Last year did not have many in garden. I got milk weed and just a poor turn out. Praying for more this years journey.. 🦋🙏

[@apiversen]

Beautiful! Here, here for the Monarchs. No sightings or eggs are here in SE PA. 😏

[@MrLundScience]

Sorry to hear that. I hope the numbers improve for you soon. 🤞

[@kevinedgar7780]

I am in northeast Wisconsin and have found many eggs. I have 30 chrysalis and non have hatched yet. Unfortunately the best milkweed spot has been mowed twice since I found the first eggs. I watched your video on starting milkweed seeds and it is successful. Last fall I spread milkweed seed like nature does and had no new plants.Thank you for all of your information.

[@MrLundScience]

Very happy to help. Just like the Monarchs, I like to give the milkweed seeds that helpful head start before sending them off into the wild. Thank you for planting the milkweed! 😃

[@dannythervguy]

This is my first time with monarch caterpillars. We just released 27 beautiful butterflies 🦋 last week here in Southern California. We had 18 males and 9 females, I wish it was the opposite, but all looked healthy.

[@MrLundScience]

Congratulations with your 27! No easy feat when it's your first year. 👍

[@dannythervguy]

@MrLundScience Thanks, just found more eggs 🥚 on my milkweed.

[@lamma98]

My daughter saw a Monarch in my garden last week, and my other daughter found 7 eggs at work today in Toronto Ontario, and also last week, she brought home a large caterpillar who just pupated June 22.

[@MrLundScience]

That's excellent news. And if it pupated June 22nd, it would have at least have been June 10th it was an egg that was laid (or earlier), giving us an idea that Monarchs were already laying eggs at your latitude at that time. Thanks for the info!

[@janiethomas6662]

I'm in Indiana. Last year we had our 1st spotting in June (2nd week of). While our common milkweed, swamp milkweed, whirl milkweed, and butterfly weed (all native host plants) are growing beautifully; we still haven't spotted any Monarchs. We still watch for them though and while we won't be able to hand raise this year (we have vacation planned right in the middle of the rearing season) we hand raised and released 105 healthy beauties last year (our 1st year hand raising).

[@MrLundScience]

I do think that my early finds have been lucky. I know that they're out there (at both our latitudes), but they are indeed, low in number, and that can mean some might be having great luck already, and some might be barren so far. Still, as with each summer, as the generations occur, the numbers will increase. It's a potential that some may not have sightings until later in the season. More are still arriving each day from the south, so, here's hoping!

[@milkywaypride99]

Congratulations on 10 years! I always look for your vids every year. This is my 8th year of rearing monarchs. Still haven’t found any eggs or sightings in Pa.

[@MrLundScience]

Many thanks! 8 years in is quite the commitment! Sorry that there haven't been any eggs for you yet. I'm at 11 this year, all of which were lucky finds from parking lots or other "doomed" milkweed locations. I've had to pull over when driving to check some spots, sometimes coming up with zero, so, I feel the pain. I've searched plenty to find the 11 that I have! Wishing you much luck in the season!

[@rainydaze1538]

Hi there…I’ve learned so much from you. I don’t raise them inside, but I have milkweed beds. My grandkids got to see a Monarch emerge. Got a picture and everything. Over the last three years we figured out we are third mostly 4th generation, very late in the season. Anyway…see ya soon I hope.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings! That's very awesome that you were able to share that experience with your grandkids. I have some severely fond memories of releasing a Monarch with my grandmother, and from not too long ago. Thank you for getting the young ones interested and sharing it with them!

[@KorbinDallasRocks]

I’m in Illinois and harvested monarch eggs on my birthday, May 26. Released the last of nine yesterday. Only 1 female. Little disappointed in that number. I released 86 two years ago. 37 last year.

[@MrLundScience]

For me, the number of Monarchs I take in is definitely influenced by when I find my first few, and how many that is. If I don't have any early in the summer, while I'll spot check milkweed where I can, I can't devote an entire day (or more) searching milkweed in the area and coming up with nothing, which is a possibility. During summers where I find some early on, well, I must go find milkweed leaves for them to eat, and thus, I am looking over more milkweed than usual...and thus, I find more eggs. Years where I didn't have much early on, but knew I had some video ideas and wanted to get started with them, I would devote those full days to egg hunts, and it was tough work, but eventually, I'd find some. It can come down to how much time we have to search. Not sure what of that helps, if any of it, but, I'm willing to bet that the 9 you reared are very pleased with your number. Are you still actively looking for eggs?

[@KorbinDallasRocks]

@@MrLundScience Actually, that neatly sums my experience. Two years ago I harvested a ton of eggs and had drive around my area looking for patches of milkweed. And I usually ended up getting more eggs. This year I saw the monarch on my plants early but seems she didn’t lay much. I’m still checking daily.😁

[@dixie9517]

I have 25 to release hopefully soon. Summerville, SC

[@cecilial4928]

Thank you for teaching me how to help these beautiful creatures ❤

[@MrLundScience]

Thank you for taking in information and doing something with it to help them!

[@googleusergoogleuser6072]

Thank you. Love your videos about monarchs. I will be raising in central virginia

[@MrLundScience]

You're very welcome. Thanks for checking it out! 🙏Good luck, from Michigan!⛵

[@maal8824]

Nothing here in northeast Wisconsin for me. Had some eggs around this time last year and released about 60. When I found my first caterpillars 4 years ago I discovered your videos. So I guess it's your fault I'm hooked. Thank you for your videos and knowledge, glad you're doing well. Here's to a good season.

[@MrLundScience]

I suppose I do need to take some responsibility in getting you hooked. Sorry that they haven't come your way just yet. I do admit, I think I've gotten lucky with my early finds this season. Good luck to you, and thank you for your conservation efforts!

[@Cnphysther]

Yay! Happy Monarch release!

[@MrLundScience]

Thank you, kindly!🙏 And hey, look at that! KZbin added emoji's for PC users. (I often use my PC to type when responding to comments. It's faster for me.) That means, I can give out emoji's very easily now! Here, have a few more! 🦋🤿🛻🌜

[@debraaurandt4228]

❤

[@MrLundScience]

If there is a "much appreciated" emoji, I would offer it. Thank you!

[@francesgordon2833]

I have a full garden of two types of milkweed.. I live south east Ontario and haven’t seen one monarch yet. I released 98 last year. When do they arrive???

[@MrLundScience]

There is another located in south Ontario in this comments section who says they saw their first Monarch June 21st. Thus, they have arrived, albeit, it might not be where we've looked yet. They are, though, smaller in number this year. I do wish you luck! Thank you for your conservation efforts!

[@julie-nm6lv]

I never have fed the Monarchs I realease is that some thing that I should be doing there are still some flwers around late phlox is in bloom will be releasing end of August. I'm in Wisconsin

[@tinasewell1604]

Are you seeing a severe reduction in numbers? I'm in Ohio. It's July 12th, I have seen no monarchs. I have found only 6 eggs. By now I have at least mid double digits. Very scary.

[@Crazyferretlady-in5sd]

Sadly I have not seen one monarch yet down south, I bought a giant milkweed a couple of months ago and it is thriving thing is that I wasn’t sure just because it “milkweed” in the name will they use it 🧐, thanks for all u do 👍😎👍 💜

[@MrLundScience]

I certainly hope that sightings and visits improve. Did the milkweed have a species name when you bought it? For example, Common Milkweed is "Asclepias syriaca". Do you know what species it is? Good luck to you this season!🤞

[@Crazyferretlady-in5sd]

@@MrLundScienceI do not have the little sign it came with, but I took a pic of it with my plant identifier app, and it says it is a crown flower aka giant milkweed, do monarch’s have a preference/favorite 🤔

[@kathrynlu7272]

hi rich. from socal here. thanks for your commitment to educate us in raising monarchs. i found that our monarch have emerged some 2-3 hrs ago. i need your expertise before release. 1. should i feed her the honey-water now? 2. do you release your butterfly the same day or you hold on for 1-2 days? 2. is it a good time for release today since the whole week is going to be hot. we have a heat warning for the week. i have 9 chrysalis & 9 more caterpillars in different instar stages. 3. tomorrow is the 4th of july, there are going to be fireworks. i am afraid of her having more chance of being hurt. thanks again & hope to hear from you soon. stay awesome!!! 👩🏻❤️🐿️🐾🐛🦋🦜🌺🌸🌼🐢

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Kathryn! I'll do my best for you: 1. I have found that Monarchs I have offered honey water to, they almost always reject it the first day. On the day after having emerged, they tend to readily accept it. That said, the choice to feed the Monarch before release is an optional one. (I myself, being in Michigan, tend to only do it for the migratory generation, beginning around mid-August, but that's specific to me at my location and latitude.) So, whether you give any or not, that is truly up to you, and if some choose not to, they need not feel like they aren't doing something they are required to. I hope that makes sense. 2. My default setting is to release as soon as they are showing me that they are ready, and that would usually be the same day, assuming they emerged in the morning. If they are trying to fly, they are letting me know, they're ready. When I take in an egg, I try to act as if I've made a deal with nature, that I'll care for the egg and help the individual make it to the adult stage, and then release. Once that adult stage has been reached and the Monarch can fly off, I feel honor bound, I need to release. Now, if it's a torrent of rain coming down, I'll likely hold off one day. There's only advantage to it, provided however the Monarch is housed, there's no high risk to injury (especially of the wings). However, (and this might just be more from an East of the Rockies perspective) if it's late summer or early fall when I know the adult is highly likely to be part of the migration, each day is extremely valuable, as each day, there's fewer and fewer nectar producing flowers along the migration. In those cases, holding off release, even if it seems logical due to winds or a storm, or low temperatures, it can be detrimental to that Monarch's chances if migration is postponed. 3. Unless it's an obvious major storm, I would release. If the Monarch had emerged in nature, it would be out doing its thing, even with the heat wave. Also, Monarchs have a pretty large window of temperatures that they do just fine with. 4. Concerning the 4th of July and fireworks, the increased probability of harm from a firework or firecracker is fairy minimal. If anything, the small risk of injury due to responsible captivity is likely higher, though I don't think anyone's in the mood to try to calculate those two. At night, Monarchs like other butterflies and insects, find shelter in trees, bushes, shrubs, and other covered, out of the way areas. Most fireworks projectiles are chemically engineered to not fall as solid pieces, but as fine dusts produced. The larger factor that the Monarch would experience from fireworks would be the sound produced. Monarchs don't really have a great sense of hearing, but can sense the vibration of the firework. Still, this would only be about the level of what a large clap of thunder would be. I'm speculating here, but if anything, fireworks would likely only signal to an already roosting for the evening Monarch to stay roosting. I wouldn't predicted any significant risk to them. I hope this helps! Good luck with your efforts! 🦋🦋🦋

[@susansmith6680]

My Monarch garden is growing very well but have not seen one Monarch butterfly as of today. I'm in Ohio.

[@MrLundScience]

I too have yet to see an adult in the wild yet, this season. The two eggs I found on 5/27 was a lucky find, I think.