Saturday, August 1, 2009

Of Monarchs and Milkweeds

Over at Milwaukee County First*, we received an email from a concerned citizen with an alarming tale to share. With his expressed permission, I am duplicating the email here in its entirety, with only his last name and contact information redacted, to protect his privacy:
To whom this may concern:

For decades there has always been a healthy, moderately-sized stand of milkweed plants allowed to grow unhampered along the edge of the lagoon at Greenfield park, until today.

Some ignorant fool just cut down virtually every Milkweed plant during the grass mowing operation. There was no reason to do this, and I am devastated.

These milkweed plants provided a vital breeding ground food source for our Monarch butterflies which eat only Milkweed...nothing else. By cutting down these beautiful plants, you have destroyed any chance for the Monarch butterflies to lay their eggs, raise their young and produce the next generation of Monarchs destined to fly south and play a crucial part in their survival as a species.

I ask you to please educate those individuals responsible for groundskeeping activities so that they never again destroy these milkweed plants so crucial to the survival of our beautiful Monarch butterfly population which is currently under great stress as it is.
I consider Greenfield park, with its beautiful lagoon, a refuge for our precious wildlife...not just a place for humans to party. Perhaps you can see my point of view and agree to allow our beautiful Monarch butterflies to consider it a refuge too.

Thank you for your time and kind consideration.
Sincerely,
Gerald
It is alarming due to the fact that both Milwaukee County and the state's Department of Transportation are threatening to effectively destroy the Monarch Trail on the county grounds, the unique place where the Monarch Butterflies stop during their migrations. There will be sol little left for them that all places of refuge for these gems should be protected.

And speaking of the DOT, it is not too late to make your voice heard. Deadline for giving them hell, er, I mean feedback on their proposal for the zoo interchange is August 10. Contact information is:
  • E-mail comments to dotdtsdsezoo@dot.wi.gov
  • Faxed comments to (262) 548-5662
  • Mail comments to: James Liptack, P.E.
    WisDOT, SE Transportation Region
    P.O. Box 798
    Waukesha, WI 53187-0798


Jim Liptack, Project Manager
Phone
: (262) 548-8662
E-mail: james.liptack@dot.wi.gov
Web site: www.sefreeways.org


*Don't forget to go back to Milwaukee County First and join up, and maybe even donate.

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