September 23, 2024

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University hosted citizen scientists of all ages at the 6th annual Monarch Madness event on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Fox Ridge Nature Park. This popular, family-friendly event drew almost 150 participants eager to catch and tag monarch butterflies, contributing to a broader scientific effort to study these majestic creatures' health and migration patterns.

Monarch Madness is part of a larger conservation initiative organized by the University of Kansas's "Monarch Watch" program. It aims to track the migration of monarch butterflies, which journey thousands of miles from the northern U.S. and southern Canada to their wintering grounds in Mexico. Tagging monarchs helps researchers monitor the species' health, population trends, and environmental challenges. This valuable data allows scientists to make informed decisions about conservation strategies to protect the monarch population.

VU College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Dean Curt Coffman has been at the forefront of these efforts. Coffman's passion for monarch research began after reading an article in "American Biology Teacher." It inspired him to engage grade-school students in butterfly tagging.

Coffman later integrated the monarch tagging lab into his VU courses, expanding opportunities for hands-on learning for VU students.

"Tagging monarch butterflies is crucial for understanding their migratory patterns and identifying threats to their survival," Coffman said.  "Citizen scientists play an outstanding role in collecting data contributing to national research efforts. "Monarch Madness provides an opportunity for the community to engage while connecting with nature meaningfully."

The success of this educational initiative led to the creation of Monarch Madness, which has become a popular annual event, attracting large numbers of participants each year.

"It's wonderful to see so many people, from kids to adults, excited about science and conservation," Coffman added. "The data collected through events like this is important to researchers and helps raise awareness about the environmental challenges monarchs face."

Monarch Madness participants caught monarchs with butterfly nets, observed them up close, and tagged them with small stickers before releasing them back into the wild. The tags are unique identifiers that allow scientists to track the butterflies as they migrate, providing critical insights into their survival rates and migratory success.

Other organizations that partner with VU to support Monarch Madness are the Knox County Soil & Water Conservation District, Purdue Extension, Knox County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, Knox County Public Library, Quail Forever, and Knox County Solid Waste.

Monarch Madness contributes to scientific research but also fosters a sense of community and environmental stewardship. VU and the College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics are proud to support this initiative, emphasizing the importance of citizen science in protecting our natural world.

###