Hannah Presken, Mayor’s Office Student Intern, No Phone Number Available
Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 11:15 a.m.
Summer is in full swing and while you’re out enjoying the sun, our pollinators are working hard to keep Spokane beautiful! Every year, we welcome our western Monarch Butterflies that stop by Spokane on their annual migration. Monarchs undertake a thousand-mile migration every year to move from their northern breeding areas in the summer to their winter homes in the south using their internal compass.
While this spectacular migration has always amazed our city, in recent years, the population in Washington has suffered the effects of climate change. As the temperature fluctuates, Monarchs are easily affected by the extreme heat and extreme cold. In addition, destruction of the native milkweed plant which provides food, a habitat, and where Monarchs lay their eggs inhibit them from completing their journey. Therefore in 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added the Monarch butterfly to the list of federal threatened and endangered species.
Here in the City, we are dedicated to not only conservation but also rebuilding the habitat’s here that help encourage pollinators to stop in Spokane! Mayor Woodward has signed onto the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge which solidifies our commitment to create a habitat for the monarch butterflies, other pollinators, and educate our community about ways they can make a difference at home. Along with the Proclamation for Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Month, the City is also actively getting our local government involved.
While there is still progress to be made, many community members and departments here at City Hall have already begun ways to educate and promote conservation.
Now Mayor Woodward is calling on our citizens to help make our community a welcoming environment for our Monarch Butterflies. Below are ways you can participate and learn about how to help our pollinators!
Visit our Public Libraries
Parks and Recreation
Volunteer
Activities
