Prairie Fens and the Fight to Protect a Vanishing Butterfly
- Andy Metz
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
At some point in each of our lives, we have surely marveled at the beauty of butterflies. From the simple Cabbage Whites to the ever recognizable Monarchs, butterflies are a common and wonderful sight during the warmer months of the year. But, some species, especially now, are becoming less and less common as the many stresses of today’s changing environment catch up with them. One species in particular has declined much more drastically than many others: the Poweshiek skipperling.
Once a very common sight throughout much of central North America, the Poweshiek could be seen from Southern Manitoba, Canada, to right here in Michigan. It thrives in an ecosystem called prairie fens, a unique type of wetland fed by groundwater, specifically groundwater that has passed through mineral soils. Towards the late twentieth century, people's interest in the Poweshiek grew, and sightings increased for several decades. However, as the years have progressed, the prairie fens that the Poweshieks need to survive have dwindled significantly, now becoming one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet. Eventually, in the early 2000’s, the Poweshiek’s population crashed. Today it is one of the most endangered species in the world, with nearly all of its former habitat lost. In fact, a census in 2022 found less than 70 of the Poweshieks left in the wild. And one of the last remaining homes for this once abundant butterfly is right here in Southeastern Michigan, in Davisburg.
The Butterfly Preserve in Davisburg, managed by Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy, is an area of incredible significance to our local wildlife, including the Poweshiek. About half of the area in the preserve consists of the prairie fens that the Poweshiek thrives in, making it one of the only suitable habitats for the butterfly left in Michigan. Not only does the preserve contain habitat important to the Poweshiek, it also contains another type of ecosystem: the oak barrens, which support other endangered species as well. These include the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake, and the Eastern box turtle. The preserve even serves as a stopping point for various bird migrations. This preserve is also important in ways beyond the various animal species that call it home: as the Shiawassee river flows through the fen, it is also an area of great hydrologic significance.
The butterfly preserve requires constant management to ensure that it remains an ideal habitat for the Poweshiek, as well as the other species that live there. Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy manages the property, keeping it as pristine as possible, working to mitigate the factors that threaten the Poweshiek. For instance, prescribed burns and foliar sprays to reduce invasive plant species. Actions such as this are critical to maintaining habitats for the Poweshiek. More land management strategies are employed throughout the remaining habitats, such as prescribed grazing by cattle, protection of the waters that feed into the prairie fens, and further removal of invasive woody plants, many of which threaten to overtake the grasses that Poweshieks thrive in.
Although things may look grim for the future of the Poweshiek, conservationists have come together in remarkable ways to help preserve this species, many of them partnering under the Poweshiek Skipperling International Partnership (PSIP). PSIP and its partners, including us here at Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy, have made great strides toward preserving the Poweshiek. Partnering zoos have begun captive breeding programs for the butterflies. This can help both by releasing butterflies into the wild to raise their populations, as well as by retaining populations in captivity, in case something were to happen to those left in the wild. Both the Minnesota Zoo (Apple Valley, MN) and the John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids, MI) are a part of this program, and have contributed to releasing Poweshieks into the wild right here in Oakland County.
Another way conservationists are working to help the Poweshiek is by researching its decline. The collapse of Poweshiek skipperling populations occurred extremely quickly, falling to less than 1000 individuals since the early 2000’s. But although the decline itself was very clear to conservation workers, the reasons were not. There were, and still are, many possible factors that could have contributed to the collapse of these populations, including climate change, habitat loss, use of pesticides (especially a type of pesticide known as neonicotinoids), invasive species, and more. The multiple different possible culprits, coupled with the speed of the population collapse, can make it difficult to determine what specifically led to this decline. By researching these different possible causes, conservationists can determine what the most serious threats are to the Poweshiek, and decide how best to protect and restore their populations.
With all of the incredible work being done by conservation workers, there is hope yet for the future of the Poweshiek skipperling. In the short term, we are working tirelessly to slow, and hopefully stop, the decline of their populations by protecting their habitat. As the ongoing efforts to research the threats they face, as well as to maintain their habitat, continue over the coming years, we hope to eventually reverse the decline and see their population grow again. If this is successful, it may even become possible to reintroduce the Poweshiek into some of its former habitat range. However, it will likely take many years of constant effort to see such success, and that is why conservationists still need help.
In order to continue working towards the recovery of the Poweshiek, it is vital that more people get involved. So, what can you do to help? First and foremost, raising awareness of endangered species is key to their survival. Something as simple as spreading the word goes a long way towards their recovery. You can also contact your local legislators about the need to protect endangered species, and to oppose projects that may further threaten them. Another way that you can get involved is to donate to organizations such as PSIP, as well as its partnering organizations. Supporting local non-profits can be incredibly helpful in keeping our wildlife areas protected. Any action you can take, however small, can make a very big difference in the effort to protect the Poweshiek skipperling, as well as other endangered species throughout our natural world.