Mayor McLean took the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge in 2022. By joining the pledge program, the city has committed to creating a healthy, sustainable habitat for the monarch butterfly and to educating residents about what they can do to support the effort. Boise Parks and Recreation and the Boise Public Library are partnering to engage both employees and residents in the pledge’s action items over the coming year.
For this project, community scientists are trained to be ambassadors that promote the conservation of pollinators. Participants will conduct stationary surveys of pollinators at bee boxes and surrounding habitat in predetermined parks and/or open space reserves by taking pictures of bees and other pollinator insects. No experience is needed!
The monarch butterfly has gained national attention, due to a substantial decline in its population since the mid-1990’s. Over 80% of the monarch population has disappeared over the past two decades which is largely attributed to habitat loss. Similar to birds, the monarch butterfly has a two-way migration path and overwinters in the southern United States and Mexico. Coastal California and Mexico have seen increased development and deforestation causing monarch habitat loss. Also, across the United States, the use of herbicides and pesticides have negatively impacted the monarch butterfly and its habitat.
To help bring the Idaho state insect back, Boise Parks and Recreation (BPR) has made the commitment to conserve monarch habitat in the Boise area. Although adult monarchs nectar on a variety of flowering plants, milkweed is the only plant that female monarchs lay their eggs on and the only plant monarch larvae will feed on as it grows. BPR staff and volunteers have mapped existing milkweed stands throughout Boise parks and are working to protect and enhance these areas. Efforts are also underway to add milkweed to parks through planting and seeding.
To monitor the monarch butterfly in Boise's parks, BPR launched a citizen science program in the spring of 2016, called Parks, Monarchs and Milkweeds. Parks, Monarchs and Milkweeds engages volunteers in the monitoring of monarch breeding activity and milkweed habitat. The data collected by volunteers is compiled for inclusion in a national database. Although there are a number of organizations monitoring monarch activity, BPR chose to submit its data to the Xerces Society, which is located in Portland, OR, and focused on the western monarch.
No volunteer opportunities at this time.
Population decline seems to be an unfortunate theme these days with the world's wildlife, and is especially true of our pollinators. Pollinator numbers have really taken a hit in the last half century, with some species such as the monarch butterfly dropping in population by as much as 80%.
So what is a pollinator and why is their decline a concern? There are over 400 hundred pollinator species in Idaho, consisting of both managed and non-managed bee species, butterflies and moths, beetles and flies, and vertebrate pollinator species such as bats and birds. All of which, play an important role in the reproduction of roughly 300,000 plants worldwide, and are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat.
Boise Parks and Recreation understands the importance of our local pollinators and is trying to do its part to aid in their conservation. This includes the development of a number of formal pollinator gardens, implementation and protection of informal pollinator areas in parks and public right of ways, as well as the adoption of a robust Integrated Pest Management Program which guides the department on controlling weeds and pests in an environmentally responsible way.
We are looking for some pollinator champions to help us care for these important areas. Through regularly scheduled work days, participants will help plant new pollinator plants as needed, add mulch to planting beds, remove weeds and monitor for pollinator use.
For other after hours park related emergencies (i.e. irrigation issues, restrooms), please call (208) 489-6640.