Keeping milkweed in the prairie

A monarch butterfly feeding on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

The main objective of the Ojibway Prairie Reptile Recovery program is to save the Massasauga rattlesnake population in this area, but to do that, habitat enhancement and protection is vital. The Ojibway Prairie in Windsor, ON is unique, with  incredible biodiversity and an impressive number of rare plants and animals. 

A recently discovered challenge to the plant diversity in the area is that members of the public have been cutting milkweed plants out of the beautiful (and protected) prairie habitat to feed it to monarch butterflies they are attempting to rear at home.

Citizen science is an important aspect of conservation and seeing so many individuals spending time and energy on what they believe to be a good cause is refreshing. However, milkweed removal from parkland can cause more harm than good.

Milkweed removal is harmful

• Milkweed harvesting removes an important food source for the wild population of monarchs that already exists at Ojibway Prairie.
• According to a recent study, captive-reared monarchs are generally half as strong as wild ones and less likely to successfully complete their long migration to Mexico. This means that raising them at home is potentially setting them up for failure.
• Did you know there are different species of milkweed and some are quite rare? Removing milkweed from their habitat could spell disaster for the rarer species.

Monarch caterpillar hiding under a common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) leaf.

Milkweed is special too!

Ojibway Prairie is quite diverse – seven species of milkweed have been identified here (that’s half of the 14 species found in Canada)!

This includes familiar species like:

• common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
• swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

The rare species include:

• purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)
• sullivant’s milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)
• whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

The Ojibway Prairie is the only habitat in all of Canada where  Asclepias hirtella, the tall green milkweed, can be found.

How you can help

• Leave milkweed where you find it.
• Plant your garden with species of wildflower seeds, including milkweed, native to your region.
• Certify your garden as ‘Monarch Waystations’ or join a pollinator corridor.  Check out this local project here).