Press release

Crawford County is helping put Monarch Butterflies back on the map! Residents have begun harvesting Common Milkweed seed pods to contribute to Monarch habitat improvement across the nation.  Buckeye Central 7th grade science students are collecting seed pods from the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), one of several species of milkweed plants that Monarch larvae use as their only source of food. Collection continues through October 30th.

The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative is asking residents of Ohio to harvest tan or brown Common Milkweed seed pods to raise awareness of the Monarch Butterfly’s dwindling habitat in Ohio and across the nation.  The weeds are harder to find now that their habitat, like fence rows and roadsides are being affected by expanding agricultural practices and roadside maintenance.  Understanding that farming is Ohio’s number one industry and that it feeds our nation, and our desire for beautiful roadsides, we are looking for alternative ways to provide for these all-important pollinators.

Citizens of Crawford County are asked to collect seed pods, preferably still in tact, in paper bags marked with the county of collection and drop them off at the high school office entrance at Buckeye Central Schools, Crawford County’s official collection site. The pods need to be brown in color.  If they are plucked while still green, the seed won’t be mature and won’t germinate next spring.  The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative will supply ODOT with seeds to be spread along 19,000 miles of right-of-way in an effort to boost Monarch populations by providing the necessary food source. Monarch butterflies are important contributors to pollination across the nation before they migrate south to the Oyamel Mountains of Mexico in October.

Please consider taking a walk to hunt for the Common Milkweed plant to collect mature (brown or tan) seed pods.  Any resident is welcome to drop off seeds at the BC front office at 938 South Kibler Street in New Washington before October 30th. For more information, please visit the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative at http://www.ophi.info/.

If you have questions, please contact Science teacher Mrs. Marianne Williamson at mwilliamson@bcbucks or 419-492-1035, Ext. 1400.