Tag Monarch Butterflies at the Nebraska State Fair

GRAND ISLAND, NE – The Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD), Central Community College, and the Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team invite the public to participate in a Monarch Butterfly Tagging Event at the Nebraska State Fair on Wednesday, August 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Entomologist Dr. Crystal Ramm and Environmental Sustainability Director Ben Newton, representing Central Community College campuses in Ord and Grand Island, will lead the event. Participants will learn how to safely catch Monarch butterflies, tag them for research, and discover fascinating facts about their long migration journey.

Educational materials about the Monarch Watch Program will be available, including instructions on how to track the Monarch you tag. There is no cost to participate, and butterfly nets will be provided.
Since the Monarch tagging program began in 1992, thousands of people have tagged more than two million Monarchs, resulting in over 20,000 tag recoveries from overwintering sites in Mexico.

The event will take place at the Groundwater Guardian’s Outdoor Learning Area gazebo, located near the Kidz Zone at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds.

“In recent years, both the eastern and western Monarch populations have experienced substantial declines, making research efforts like this vital,” said Marcia Lee, CPNRD Information & Education Specialist. “By helping tag Monarchs, participants can provide data to help scientists better understand migration patterns and support conservation strategies to protect these important pollinators.”

For more details on the Monarch Tagging Event, visit cpnrd.org.