Mitchell's Satyr, One of World's Most Endangered Butterflies, Gets Wing Up

Photos courtesy of John B.1, Flickr.

Beautiful, chocolate-brown Mitchell's Satyr butterflies used to frequent up to five U.S. states. Today, this species of butterfly can only be found in 19 "fens," a type of unique, low-nutrient wetland area, in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. It's not over yet for the Mitchell's Satyr, however, despite the destruction of habitat areas for urban and agricultural development; contamination from pesticides, fertilizers and nutrient runoff; and threats from invasive species and even butterfly collectors. Not all of us humans are bad.

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