Chicago Garden Saving Butterflies
A Chicago woman is transforming her neighborhood into a sanctuary for monarch butterflies, helping protect the species during its nearly 3,000-mile annual migration to Mexico. Claudia Galeno-Sánchez, a 49-year-old mother of two, began her conservation efforts after visiting her hometown in Mexico and noticing far fewer monarchs than she remembered seeing as a child. Concerned about declining populations caused by habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use, she transformed the front and back yards of her home in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood into a butterfly habitat filled with milkweed and wildflowers. Her efforts have since expanded throughout the community, with eight native planting projects established at her home and nearby schools. By providing essential food and habitat for monarchs and other pollinators, her work demonstrates how small, community-led efforts can make a meaningful difference in protecting wildlife and restoring urban ecosystems.
Image via The Guardian
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