First Butterfly Field Days held at Fort McCoy; dozens participate

Photo By Scott Sturkol | A monarch butterfly is shown July 26, 2019, at an area on South Post at Fort McCoy, Wis. The monarch butterfly has thrived on Fort McCoy and was featured during two Butterfly Field Days on July 26-27, 2019. Approximately 60 people from the post and the general public participated in this first-ever event, which highlighted the many rare species of butterflies that call Fort McCoy home. The Natural Resources Branch (NRB) with the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division recently received an award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partly because of the work done by branch personnel creating habitat for endangered butterfly species. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

08.08.2019

Story by Scott Sturkol                                                                                         

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

Approximately 60 people from Fort McCoy and the general public attended a pair of Butterfly Field Days on July 26-27 at the installation to learn about the unique habitat Fort McCoy has for rare species of butterflies to flourish.

Tim Wilder, longtime post wildlife and endangered species biologist and chief of the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch, said this was “an opportunity for people to learn much more about the rare butterfly management that is occurring on the installation.”

Each field day included a presentation at the Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport terminal followed by a bus tour to butterfly habitat. Attendees got to see some rare butterflies, such as the Karner blue, regal fritillary, and the ottoe skipper, along with many more common species, such as a monarch butterfly.

This was the first time field days like this were held. Wilder said it helped raise more awareness about endangered butterfly species and their habitat.

“The populations of many pollinators, including butterflies, are declining throughout their ranges,” Wilder said. “Fort McCoy is home to one of the largest remaining populations of the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly.

“Fort McCoy is also home to three species of butterflies that are currently undergoing status reviews by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if they require protection under the Endangered Species Act,” he said. These species are the monarch, frosted elfin, and regal fritillary butterflies. Fort McCoy also has the only remaining population of ottoe skipper butterflies in Wisconsin.

Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin.

The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services each year since 1984.

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”

• Date Taken: 08.08.2019
• Date Posted: 08.08.2019 15:12
• Story ID: 335194
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US