Monarch tagging at Glendalough State Park on Aug. 21

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Monarch tagging at Glendalough State Park on Aug. 21
(Released August 19, 2010)


Glendalough State Park will celebrate the journey of monarch butterflies with a morning full of activities on Saturday, Aug. 21.
 
Almost every year, hundreds of monarch butterflies stop by the park during their long migration to Mexico. The park has celebrated Minnesota’s state insect with special events like monarch tagging for more than 10 years.

The day starts at 9 a.m. at the Molly Stark picnic shelter with a reading of Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” followed by a butterfly craft activity.

At 10 a.m., the annual monarch tagging demonstration begins at the Prairie Hill trailhead. All ages are encouraged to learn how to catch and handle a monarch, determine whether it is male or female, and properly tag it. All monarchs will be released after they are tagged.

Bring a butterfly net or share a park net; long pants are recommended. Tagging will continue until noon, or as long as there are enough tags and butterflies. Migrating monarchs are highly visible along the Prairie Hill Trail from mid-August through Labor Day.

All events are free with a Minnesota state parks vehicle permit - $5 for a day pass and $25 for a year-round permit. Glendalough State Park, located in northwestern Minnesota, has many opportunities to offer its visitors such as fishing, camping and swimming.

For more information about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Parks and Trails special programs, call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157, toll-free 888-646-6367.



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