B.C. Golf Courses Part Of North American Plan To Attract Monarch Butterflies

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler And Arbutus Ridge In Victoria Are Among 30 Golf Courses Across Canada That Have Committed To Growing Milkweed As Part Of The Monarchs In The Rough Program Devoted To Increasing The Population Of Monarch Butterflies - Image Courtesy Pixabay

By SUSAN LAZARUK - Vancouver Sun

Numbers of the majestic monarch butterfly have been in a free fall and a plan hatched with the help of golf courses across North America, including two in B.C., is hoping to bring them flying back. The number of the summer visitors to flower gardens and wildflower fields has plummeted 90 per cent over the past 20 years, according to Audubon International.

“And it’s worse in the western population, where you are, where there’s been a 95 per cent drop in numbers,” said Marcus Gray of Audubon International.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Victoria’s Arbutus Ridge golf courses are among the 30 courses across Canada and the 250 so far across the U.S. that have committed to growing the flowers on a half hectare of land on their courses.

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