Laurel Highlands Push to Build Butterfly Havens

A growing coalition in Westmoreland County is دعوتing residents of the Laurel Highlands to transform their properties into safe havens for monarch butterflies. The initiative, led by Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, seeks to establish 250 certified “waystations” that will support monarchs during their annual migration through western Pennsylvania.

Each fall, monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles from the northern United States to Mexico. Along the way, they depend on healthy habitats to feed, reproduce, and rest. A monarch waystation is designed to meet these needs at every stage of the butterfly’s life cycle, according to Melissa Reckner of Brandywine Conservancy’s Penguin Court Preserve.

To qualify, properties must include milkweed—the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat—along with nectar-rich flowers such as asters, goldenrods, and native sunflowers. These plants provide critical energy sources and breeding grounds for the species.

The effort comes at a crucial time. Monarch populations have dropped by more than 80 percent since the 1990s due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and the disappearance of milkweed. Conservation groups warn that without intervention, the species faces an uncertain future.

So far, 34 waystations have been certified in the region. The program is free for participants in Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties, with funding support covering certification and signage costs.

Participants are encouraged to plant native species, avoid pesticides, and create sunny, sheltered spaces of at least 100 square feet. Even small efforts can contribute to a larger network of habitats that helps sustain monarchs along their migration route.

Organizers emphasize that restoring these habitats not only benefits monarchs but also strengthens local ecosystems. By creating connected corridors of pollinator-friendly spaces, communities can play a direct role in reversing the butterfly’s decline.