Monarch’s Journey, The Start South from Lamoine

Butterflies hatching here in Acadia, and Lamoine, Maine will find their way south and meet up with millions in Mexico.   These high flying migrations begin here in September, right after the equinox.

We’ve grown plants which the caterpillars feed on (milkweed family) so that we could watch this fascinating journey from here at SeaCat’s Rest.    Migrating animals are amazing.   The monarchs travel south and gather just over the Texas border in Mexico.   There they spend the winter months.   Come spring they migrate into Texas and follow little by little the blooming of the milkweed family of plants.   They lay eggs on the young plants, the caterpillars consume the leaves, the toxins of which accumulate in the adult, making it a nasty treat for predators.    The adults thus can live to migrate ever northward and repeat the cycle 4-5 times during the summer season.     Here in Maine, we are at the end of the loop.    Our monarchs here begin the journey south again, living a very long time, until the spring comes again, there to lay eggs and have another year’s generation repeat the never ending cycle.

In 2007-2008 winter there was devastating weather in the mountains of Mexico and as a result we saw few monarchs make it up north this far.   However, now in 2009, we have seen a few return.    Hopefully that increases in future years.

Guests at SeaCat’s Rest in Lamoine in August and September have only to ask and we will be glad to find a few of these special migratory critters for them to observe up close and personal. If you reserve a week in that time period with children let us know and we can work to let them observe the hatching process if the timing is right.

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