Monarch Tagging in Des Moines
Early fall is the time of year to tag monarchs. There are several programs and events happening in the Des Moines area so you and your family can learn why people tag monarchs, how to do it, and actually do it yourself. Take a look at this list of monarch tagging in Des Moines.
Des Moines Parks and Recreation
Various dates and locations.
Monarch tagging is a great way to get the public involved and excited about monarch butterflies and what conservation practices Des Moines Parks and Recreation is taking to help the monarch butterfly. Most people know what a monarch butterfly is but they do not always know that the number of monarch butterflies in the wild has been dropping drastically since the mid-1990s. The tagging programs are a local part of a larger citizen science project that has been going on since 1992 to better understand the dynamics of the monarch’s spectacular fall migration. Each year more than a quarter of a million tags are used by volunteers across North America who tag monarchs as they migrate through their area on their way to Mexico.
These are free programs open to the public.
- September 8th at 10:30 a.m. – Union Park
- September 11th at 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Blank Park Zoo Monarch Festival
- September 13th at 3:30 p.m. – Pete Crivero Park
- September 15th at 10:30 a.m. – Franklin Community Gardens
- September 17th at 10:00 a.m.- Gray’s Lake Terrace
- September 17th at 1:00 p.m. – Ashby Park
- September 23rd at 4:30 p.m. – North Side Library
- September 24th at 10:30 a.m. – Forest Avenue Library
Monarch Tagging at Jester Park
September 3 at 1 p.m.
Jester Park Nature Center
Come learn about one of the world’s most talked about butterflies and what makes them so unique! We will also try our hand at catching and tagging monarchs as they migrate to their winter home in Mexico. Come prepared to move around and have some fun! No registration is needed. Free program.face
Monarch Day
September 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Blank Park Zoo
Join the Zoo and our Plant.Grow.Fly. partners to celebrate the monarch butterfly as it starts its journey to Mexico for the winter.
Partners and activities will include:
- Des Moines Parks & Recreation – Monarch Migration – an obstacle course that represents the life cycle and journey south to Mexico of a monarch butterfly.
- Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium– Monarch Mayhem – a variety of fun and educational displays, including live pollinators and plants, and interactive pollinator-themed activities
- Polk County Conservation – monarch tagging
- Good Neighbor Iowa – inform consumers about the harmful side effects urban pesticide use can cause
- Ted Lare Garden Center – Plants, giveaways, milkweed plants, handouts, wildflower seeds
- RDG – Engage with the City of Des Moines Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (ADAPT DSM)
Monarch Tagging at Otter Creek
September 11 at 1 p.m.
Otter Creek in Indianola
Come discover more about monarch butterflies, their life cycle, and their miraculous migration to Mexico. A Warren County Conservation Naturalist will teach you how to catch and handle a monarch, determine gender, and properly tag them in the wild as part of a national research project. All monarchs will be released after they are tagged. Bring a butterfly net if you have one, or share a park net if you don’t. There is a limited number of nets available for use. Fun for the whole family! Please register by September 10, 2022. Space is limited.
Monarch Tagging – Franklin Library
September 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Franklin Library
Joel will provide an overview of the Monarch Butterfly – the life cycle, the role of milkweed, migration, and the tagging program. He will show us an example of live monarch tagging and release, with at least one live monarch, if possible. He will bring nets and, weather and circumstances permitting, we can go catch more monarchs in the yard to tag and release. Please register!
Monarch Butterfly Tagging – East Side Library Lawn
September 14 at 3:30 p.m.
East Side Library Lawn
Visit the East Side Library to learn about monarch butterflies and butterfly tagging with Des Moines Parks and Rec! Joel Van Roekel will share information about monarchs, view how butterflies are tagged, and watch as they are released.
Monarch Tagging at Buxton Park
September 17 at 1 p.m.
Buxton Park in Indianola
Come discover more about monarch butterflies, their life cycle, and their miraculous migration to Mexico. A Warren County Conservation Naturalist will teach you how to catch and handle a monarch, determine gender, and properly tag them in the wild as part of a national research project. All monarchs will be released after they are tagged. Bring a butterfly net if you have one, or share a park net if you don’t. There is a limited number of nets available for use. Fun for the whole family! Please register by September 16, 2022. Space is limited.
Monarch Butterfly Tagging – Central Library Lawn
September 20 at 4 p.m.
Central Library Lawn
Kids and families can learn about the monarch butterflies in this special program at Central! Join Parks and Recreation Supervisor Joel Van Roekel as he shares information about monarch butterflies. Afterward, kids can participate in a butterfly obstacle course, learn how butterflies consume nectar, view how butterflies are tagged, and watch as they are released. For youth ages 5 and up.
Monarch Butterfly Tagging – South Side Library
September 26 at 6:30 p.m.
South Side Library
Kids and families can learn about the monarch butterflies in this special program at South! Join Parks and Recreation Supervisor Joel Van Roekel as he shares information about monarch butterflies. Afterward, kids can participate in a butterfly obstacle course, learn how butterflies consume nectar, view how butterflies are tagged, and watch as they are released. For youth ages 5 and up.
