Did you know, that monarch butterflies have the longest insect migration in North America? You can enjoy this migration right here in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Every fall, monarch butterflies travel an average of 50-100 miles a day with an average speed of 10-12 miles per hour. These amazing creatures never seem to stop amazing us!
The peak migration through northeastern Indiana is the first few weeks in September. Plan to visit Fort Wayne in early September to get the best glimpse of these beautiful winged creatures.
The Best Place to See Monarchs in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Whether you're enjoying downtown Fort Wayne's developing riverfront, discovering our great outdoor adventures or some of our great preserves, keep a lookout for a passing monarch.
For the best viewing opportunity, make sure to plan a visit to Little River Wetlands and Eagle Marsh. Little River Wetlands and Eagle located southwest of downtown Fort Wayne are offer beautiful trails and paths to watch the monarchs.
To learn more about this incredible insect and witness this migration, you'll want to join the 8th annual Monarch Festival on Sunday, September 9. Little River Wetlands Project (LWRP) is celebrating monarch butterflies on Sunday, September 9th from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm with this free public event. The event will feature new educational activities centered on monarchs and their importance as pollinators in our ecosystem. Caterpillars, chrysalis, and adult monarchs will all be on display for visitors to explore up close. LRWP will also be giving away 1000 free milkweed plants since milkweed is the only plant that monarch caterpillars can eat the leaves.
Plus, you can help researchers tag monarchs with special stickers used to track their migration. Jeff Orminston of Allen County Parks will on hand to help with the University of Kansas efforts to track the migration.
Vendors will be on site such as Young Urban Homesteaders, Riverview Nursery, Glenn’s Honey, and local authors that feature monarchs - Helen Frost and Kylee Baumle. Visitors will also be able to join many Fort Wayne community partners that all share the same focus of preserving the monarch butterfly, including the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Allen County Parks, Indiana DNR, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Discover how Fort Wayne's wetlands and you play an important role in the life of these butterflies and how you can help monarch butterflies.
Guest post by Little River Wetlands Project
