Bill would have designated the monarch as state butterfly
By Charlie Mitchell 3 April 2024
The bill that would have designated the monarch butterfly as the official Wisconsin state butterfly died in the Senate Committee on Government Operations, left off the agenda by the committee chairman last month, just days before the 2023-24 legislative session ended. The bill, which would have made the monarch the state butterfly in the same way that the badger is designated as state animal and the sugar maple is designated as state tree, was intended to bring needed attention to the monarch, which is an endangered species.
The bill, promulgated by Butterfly Gardens in Appleton, was actively supported by Citizens for a Scenic Wisconsin. Jack Voight, owner of Butterfly Gardens, was the main speaker at CSW’s Legislative Day which was held September 27th in a conference room in the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison. Voight announced the creation of the bill at a press conference that day.
While the bill was killed in committee, it did have 30 cosponsors, which indicates that the bill was respected and popular in the legislature. The bill had the endorsement of the influential Wisconsin Conservation Congress, as well as endorsements of many other respected environmentalists and butterfly oriented organizations.
The monarch butterfly is a charming and beloved creature that people like to see flying around their backyards. The butterfly bill would have increased tourism by stimulating people’s interest in observing the monarch at nature centers and business developments.
Also, butterflies benefit people by helping pollinate fruits and vegetables that are part of our food supply. It is in the interest of the human population to keep butterflies healthy and prospering. The monarch butterfly is not prospering, it is an endangered species, having lost 90% of its population since 1990. The bill would have increased awareness of the plight of the monarch and encouraged people to stop the loss of butterfly habitat.
The mission of Butterfly Gardens, in addition to entertaining visitors, is to provide habitat for butterflies on their long annual journey from the northern US to central Mexico. Increased use of herbicides have greatly reduced the amount of milkweed, the monarch’s primary habitat.
The bill had been approved by the Assembly Transportation Committee by a vote of 8 – 0 in February and seemed well on its way to passage at that time. A public hearing had been held in November. Among the speakers in favor were Rep. Paul Tittl, author of the bill, Voight, and Steve Arnold, former mayor of Fitchburg.
Voight recently said that he is determined to try for passage again next year.