Monarch Butterflies Tracked Over 800 Miles from Canada to Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
Researchers have successfully tracked two radio-tagged monarch butterflies on an extensive migration journey from the Toronto area in Canada to the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. The butterflies traveled more than 800 miles, providing valuable data on their migration routes. This tracking effort is part of Project Monarch, an initiative that involves attaching tiny radio transmitters to monarch butterflies. These transmitters emit signals that can be detected by various devices, including Motus towers, Terra Listens devices, and smartphones. The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge hosts a Motus tower at its Duck River Unit, which is instrumental in tracking a range of migrating animals, including butterflies and waterfowl. This successful tracking demonstrates the efficacy of current wildlife tracking technology for even small insects over long distances.
