How about turning part of the bluff in downtown St. Joseph into waystation for migrating monarch butterflies? That’s what’s going to be done following action this week by St. Joseph City Commissioners. They heard from Ann St. Amand with PhycoTech, an environmental consulting firm. She said vegetation favored by monarchs could be planted north of the bluff stairs on the side of the bluff. When the butterflies migrate through the area around late summer and fall, they could thrive by stopping in St. Joseph. Speaking with her was Andy Sawyer, who said these monarchs go on an amazing journey.
“These monarchs that we see around August 15 will live eight to nine months,” Sawyer said. “They’ll travel 3,000 miles, often times through Texas or Mexico. They’ll overwinter in the mountains, come down out of the mountains and create a new population that will then begin the migration back up here.”
Amand said none of the vegetation that keeps the bluff stable will be removed, but some additional pollinator plants will be added for the monarchs. That area of the bluff will be designated as a Monarch Waystation by the Monarch Waystation Program. It’s not a legal designation, so this won’t hinder nearby development. A team of volunteers will maintain the space, and Amand said a social media presence will be set up to attract more support.
