Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to celebrate ‘Marvelous Monarchs’

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will soon celebrate “Marvelous Monarchs”.

There will be two sessions of this special program from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. Registration is required and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

During this program, participants will learn about the lifecycle of the Monarch butterfly, its annual migration to Mexico, and celebrations held in mountain villages to honor this beautiful butterfly. Participants will become “Citizen Scientists” for the day as they record migration data and tag a live Monarch. The Monarchs will then be released to continue their journey south to Mexico. As part of the program, each participant will receive a native seed packet and instructions on planting a pollinator garden.

Online registration is required at https://forms.office.com/g/6iCqPZvvSP and 30 spots will be available per program on a first-come, first-served basis. This program is open for children age 8+. Attendance is limited, so early registration is recommended.

Registration will remain open until the programs are filled. If you have any questions, call the Visitor Center at (580) 429-2197. Please be aware that the dates of these programs may change depending on nature’s timing of the Monarch migration, which usually occurs during late September and early October.