WPC Project

Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Recovery

Species Status: Endangered in Canada
Action Required: Conservation breeding, population augmentation and reintroduction
Location: Coastal British Columbia

Species

This small, vibrantly-coloured butterfly once thrived in Garry Oak ecosystems, wet meadows, and disturbed habitats from the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. As recently as 2005, scientists believed that this butterfly had disappeared from Canada. Two isolated populations have since been found, on Denman Island and near Oyster River on Vancouver Island. The species is quite sedentary, often using one small patch of habitat for their entire lifecycle. Learn more about this species.

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What is the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Recovery Program?

Conservation breeding of Taylor’s checkerspots began in 2013 in a converted aviary on Denman Island. Two years later, we began releasing caterpillars into restored habitats on the island. Today, breeding has been moved to facilities at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, where we can produce thousands of caterpillars each year.

Purpose

We work to support the Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly by building the wild population in British Columbia, and to supplement partner efforts that restore and maintain habitat for the species.

GOALS

In 2023 we plan to have:

  • 1500 Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly caterpillars released on Hornby Island in BC
  • 1500 caterpillars produced in the conservation breeding program for release in 2024

WHAT’S INVOLVED

Conservation breeding of Taylor’s checkerspots began in 2013 in a converted aviary on Denman Island, with the collection of 18 wild eggs. In the years since, breeding has been moved to facilities at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Techniques we use are adapted from a successful breeding and release program for the same species at the Oregon Zoo, and applied to suit the biology of our Canadian Taylor’s checkerspot populations. We now have the capability to produce over a thousand caterpillars per year, while engaging in education and outreach with Greater Vancouver Zoo guests.

This breeding program complements partner efforts that restore and maintain suitable habitat for the species, and that create new release sites for reintroductions.

The breeding population has seen increasing success since the beginning of the program. We can now produce over 1000 caterpillars a year, with improvements being made consistently. Through our captive breeding program, we continue to gain insight into the species’ behaviour, needs and development. The Taylor’s checkerspots are released as large caterpillars in early spring. In 2015, we began releasing caterpillars into restored habitats on Denman Island to supplement the existing populations.

In the early spring of 2020, the first generation of caterpillars were released into restored habitat in Helliwell Provincial Park on Hornby Island, a project many years in the making. In this formerly occupied habitat, we are attempting to establish a third, resilient population of checkerspots in BC. This important habitat on Hornby Island has been restored in collaboration with our partners.

We were thrilled to see that, come May 2020, there were adult Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies flying in these restored meadows. Releases of caterpillars on Hornby Island will continue, and the population will be monitored by our team to ensure their success.

By breeding and then releasing caterpillars, we aim to establish new self-sustaining populations in the Taylor’s checkerspot’s former range. We are also working to locate additional remaining wild populations of the species. We are protecting the Taylor’s checkerspot in BC, at the northern edge of the species’ range. This action becomes only more important in the face of climate change, which could spell the end for more southerly populations.

Project Staff

Andrea Gielens

Andrea Gielens

Lead Biologist

Andrea manages the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly recovery program in BC. Andrea has studied in Canada and abroad, including a term at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey. Andrea also manages our captive breeding and release programs for the coastal western painted turtle and Oregon spotted frog.

Mitch Gardiner

Lead Conservation Recovery Technician – Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly

Mitch is working with WPC’s recovery team in the Fraser Valley, BC. He completed his BSc at Trent University,, majoring in Conservation Biology. Mitch has worked with WPC’s Mottled Duskywing Recovery Project, coming to this from tallgrass prairie stewardship. Mitch enjoys cultivating a deep understanding of species and ecosystems that comes with conservation. What he appreciates most is fostering a passion and respect for nature in others.

Supported By

  • The Rogers Foundation
  • The Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation

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89171 0535 RR0001