Save A Monarch

What We Do During Migration

June-September are Wisconsin's main migration months for the Monarch, during this time we work out of our base camp that is located in Aniwa, WI. Chris and the volunteers will flag random areas of milkweed before the first mow.

Save a Monarch Association has gained a working relationship with the local highway department to help maintain the milkweed near base camp.

During the migration months Chris and the volunteers will be cutting and collecting leaves of the milkweed plants that contain an egg on it, bringing them back to camp to raise in the new monarch enclosure as well as checking on the health of any eggs, crystalists and caterpillars on the plants. If all is looking healthy they will be left and be regularly monitored.

Base Camp

At base camp Chris and his family have made sure to keep it heavily populated with native pollen plants to help feed not only the monarchs but other pollen loving friends. Many of your days volunteering will be filled with days of long distance walking, collecting and monitoring the milkweed patches for the health of the eggs, crystalists and caterpillars left on the plants.

Save a Monarch Association will focus on educating the public, much like the seminar that first caught Chris's attention. One of the most important things to do is have the right native wildflowers in your flower garden. The location of your garden is also important. This doesn’t mean you need a lot of space, even a small garden with the right flowers can make a huge difference.

We have two large enclosures for our rescued friends. Both have lots of milkweed and a large variety of Wisconsin native wild flowers. They are then raised and released after the chrysalis stage. Our enclosures assure they are safe from predators in the most delicate stage of their life.

Meet Our Founder

Chris Bellis is a Wisconsin native and the owner of Bellis Plastering out of Dale, WI. Seven years ago he attended a seminar at Hartman Creek State Park in Waupaca regarding the Life of a Butterfly. During that seminar he learned of the rapid decline of the monarch and simple things you can do to help, from there he was hooked. Chris instantly began to find, collect and raise his first generation of Monarch's.

After the first summer of doing that he found himself in great anticipation for the next year. Every year the goal and mission gets bigger and bigger. Over the last 10 years, Chris has raised and released over 1000 monarch butterflies. Imagine how many he could do with the help of volunteers!