A reintroduced male Dakota skipper.

A reintroduced male Dakota skipper.

 

Poweshiek skipperling (top) and Dakota skipper(bottom) caterpillars.

Poweshiek skipperling (top) and Dakota skipper(bottom) caterpillars.

The Minnesota Zoo’s Prairie Butterfly Conservation Program aims to secure a future for our state’s most imperiled prairie butterflies. Did you know that the orange and brown Poweshiek skipperling, formerly one of Minnesota’s most common prairie butterflies, is now nearly extinct? Fewer than 500 may remain in the world!  Another butterfly, the Dakota skipper, has also dropped to very low numbers and is gone from most sites. Both are now listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and are among 15 butterflies that are “Endangered,” “Threatened,” or of “Special Concern” by Minnesota.

Make a donation to support prairie butterfly conservation

 

Minnesota's Prairie Butterflies
What Is the Minnesota Zoo Doing?
What Can You Do To Help?

 

Click here for a great video of our prairie butterfly conservation in action thanks to our partner, Morrie’s Automotive Group.  And a huge thanks to generous Zoo guests like you who donated to the program during the summer of 2014!

Key Staff: Erik Runquist, Butterfly Conservation Biologist, Minnesota Zoo
Cale Nordmeyer, Butterfly Conservation Specialist, Minnesota Zoo
Seth Stapleton, Director of Field Conservation, Minnesota Zoo

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