Hamilton Naturalists' Club wants more pollinator gardens to help endangered monarch butterfly

The Hamilton Naturalists' Club and others are calling on the city to do more to help pollinators amid news the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed monarch butterflies as an endangered species last week.

Jen Baker, the land trust manager for the Hamilton Naturalists' Club, said there should be more local pollinator gardens and corridors.

A pollinator garden includes a variety of flowers and plants like milkweedto attract pollinators like bees and monarch butterflies.

"In existing garden beds in parks, let's plant native plants that support monarchs," she told CBC Hamilton.

"They've captured the hearts of people," Baker said of the now endangered butterfly species.

While she said it seems the city is taking a phased approach, she thinksmore can be done right now.

• WATCH |Monarch butterflies added to endangered species list

Monarch butterflies added to endangered species list

2 years ago

Duration 2:11

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has added the migratory monarch butterfly to its list of endangered species.

Craig Cassar, who is running to become Ward 12 councillor this fall, volunteers as a butterflyway ranger with the David Suzuki Foundation.

He posted a video shortly after hearing about the butterfly species becoming endangered in hopes people would become inspired to help.

"The city could have a plan to do this with their own funding, to put in pollinator plants in parks and public spaces and beautify the area," he said in an interview.

City says its committed to helping pollinators

Craig Murdoch, the city's director of Environmental Services, said in an email the city is committed to helping pollinators, noting how itwas designated as a bee-friendly city in 2020.

He pointed to the city's Monarch Waystation and bioswale stormwater pond at Gage Park. The waystation has resources to help monarchs breed and migrate while the bioswale is made of rows of rocks that help manage stormwater during downpours.

Monarchs are special becausethey migrate all the way to Mexico for the winter.

Murdoch also mentioned the butterfly bush garden at Sam Lawrence Park and said another good spot for monarchs is the Olmsted Natural Open Space.

"Trillium Gardens Park was originally slated to be developed as parkland but has been preserved as Core Woodland and critical linkage with foraging habitat for Monarch butterflies as well as other species of animals," he wrote.

Murdoch highlighted other upcoming plans to help pollinators, including:

• Including a pollinator patch in The Mountain Drive Park Master Plan.
• Implementing pollinator gardens in the Pipeline Trail Master Plan.
• Featuring a large swath of native grassland and meadow species in the William Connell Expansion Lands.
• Updating the Park Master Plan.

Baker, of the Hamilton Naturalists' Club, said planting milkweeds and native plants in your yard can go a long way.

"It's not just our little areas or sanctuaries in the city, but it's spreading across Hamilton."

The club, along with Environment Hamilton, share tips online on how to make your own pollinator garden.

Other ways to help include avoiding the use of pesticides and not planting invasive species.