As September 2025 approached, I began to feel the anticipation of what was to come. This year, I would net and tag monarch butterflies for Monarch Watch, an organization whose mission is to better understand how to sustain the monarch migration. My goal seemed straightforward: I would capture, tag, and release twenty-five monarch butterflies on their way to Mexico.

Did you know that wetlands are some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet? Spend even a few hours exploring any wetland in our region and you will see a stunning variety of wildlife. These include beavers, otters, frogs, turtles, and a host of unique insects and rare birds—to name but a few. Wetlands also sustain an incredible range of trees, shrubs, grasses, and ferns that deliver important benefits throughout the web of life. The nutrient-rich soil and water provide

This is the Isabella tiger moth caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella), more commonly known as the woolly bear!