Milkweed is the only wildflower monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on.

MARQUETTE — The Superior Watershed Partnership is helping Upper Peninsula residents celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day from the comfort and safety of their homes.

SWP is mailing free milkweed seed packets to expand critical habitat for pollinator species like the monarch butterfly. The seeds can be planted this spring while social distancing with your family in your yard or garden.

Monarch populations are in peril, and they need our help now more than ever. Recent numbers published by the World Wildlife Fund-Mexico suggest that the population there is well below the extinction threshold after the forest area occupied by overwintering monarchs during 2020 decreased by over 53% compared to 2019.

Loss of habitat, especially of milkweed where the monarchs lay their eggs, pesticide and herbicide use, as well as climate change, all pose threats to the species’ migration and survival.

Planting milkweed in U.P. yards and gardens will help fuel the monarch migration from Mexico to Canada and back this summer. Milkweed is the only wildflower monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on and the only plant monarch caterpillars will eat as they mature. Milkweed and monarchs are native U.P. species that are important to conserve this migration cycle of life.

You can help the monarchs and celebrate Earth Day’s golden anniversary by visiting www.SuperiorWatersheds.org to request your free milkweed seed packet. Milkweed seed packets are available to residents in all 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy is a Great Lakes nonprofit organization serving U.P. communities for over 20 years. SWP implements a variety of conservation and public education projects with an emphasis on Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron watersheds and communities.

SWP offices are temporarily closed to the public, but questions about the free milkweed seed packets can be sent to Tyler Penrod by calling 906-228-6095 ext. 15 or by emailing info@superiorwatersheds.org.