Butterfly Gardens of Saugeen Shores image.

Tagging monarchs is one of the most popular programs led by the Butterfly Gardens of Saugeen Shores (BGOSS). People of all ages come together to experience butterflies up close. Melitta Smole, BGOSS executive, said that 2018 marked the fourth year for the BGOSS tagging program. "It was an awesome year," she said. "We had a record number of 893 tagged monarchs, 574 males and 319 females.”

In a BGOSS media release, Smole attributed the increased numbers to a variety of reasons, including the healthy, mature plants in butterfly garden pods throughout Saugeen Shores as well as more people in the community planting native plants and milkweed.

One monarch that was tagged in Saugeen Shores in August was recovered some 15 days later 2,000 kilometres away. On August 25, 2018, the monarch was tagged by Carl Raynard in Southampton and on September 9 it was recovered alive in Indianola, Iowa. It was re-released and hopefully has joined the millions of monarchs now in Mexico.

In March, the overwintering monarchs will start the second leg of their spring migration to Texas. By the end of May and into early June the first monarch is expected in Saugeen Shores. “We are looking forward to another exciting year of monarchs flying in our community and bringing us joy,” said Smole.