ORLANDO, Fla. – Mary Ann Steeb loves her garden.
“We just like to take care of the yard and the flowers and so we love the butterflies,” she said. Every day, she tends to her plants and carefully protects the monarch caterpillars that call her garden home.
“I’m going to open up this cage for you... here’s Mr. Caterpillar,” Mary Ann shared, showing the thriving life in her butterfly sanctuary.
Her garden has become a vital refuge for monarchs, a species whose population has plummeted by about 80% in the last two decades due to deforestation, pesticides and predators like wasps.
“It just makes you feel good when you see them flying around because they’re so beautiful,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Mary Ann remains hopeful.
“If everyone does a little part in it, hopefully they won’t be extinct because they’re part of our ecosystem... a big part.”
Just across town at Disney’s EPCOT, scientists are using cutting-edge technology to complement grassroots efforts like Mary Ann’s. Tiny radio telemetry transmitters, about the size of a grain of rice, are carefully glued to monarchs to track their movements across Walt Disney World property.
“It’s radio telemetry and it works off the same frequency as our phones, so Bluetooth. We have stations set up that pick up signals from the tags as the butterflies fly by,” explained Morgan Belle, Conservation Programs manager.
This technology provides valuable data on monarch migration, habitat use, and health.
Dr. Zak Gezon, Disney’s Conservation director, highlights the importance of this research.
“We need to know what kind of habitat they’re using and where they’re moving to know how to protect them,” he added. “We’re not the only ones doing this work, but it takes a symphony of scientists working together to try to move the needle.”
The tagging process is meticulous.
“We weigh the butterflies to make sure the tag isn’t more than 10% of their weight. We use eyelash glue to attach the tag carefully so it doesn’t harm them,” Belle shared.
The data collected helps refine conservation methods, especially in Florida’s humid climate, which presents unique challenges.
Mary Ann’s dedication and the scientific efforts at Disney illustrate how community action and innovation can unite to protect monarchs.
“I am optimistic,” Mary Ann said. “We’re part of a bigger effort, and every little bit helps.”
For those inspired to help, planting native milkweed and butterfly-friendly flowers is a great start. Gezon advises, “Even a small garden or a few pots can make a difference. Diversity in plants feeds a diversity of wildlife.”
We visited Lukas Nursery in Oviedo for some tips on what to grow. The complete interview can be seen below.
As monarch butterflies continue their epic migrations and face ongoing threats, the blend of grassroots care and high-tech science offers hope. Together, they form a powerful chorus working to ensure these beautiful pollinators remain a vibrant part of our world.