Monarch Fest is another family-friendly option on Put-in-Bay. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PUT-IN-BAY – For years, Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center (LEINWC) has been dedicated to engaging in global efforts to protect the Monarch butterfly population. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Monarch population has declined in the past two decades due to several threats, including the loss or reduction of breeding, migratory and overwintering habitat.

To help protect the Monarch population, LEINWC has been tagging Monarchs and promoting public tagging events for several years. Last year, LEINWC staff hosted the first Monarch Fest to bring greater awareness – and fun – to Monarch tagging. The 2nd Annual Put-in-Bay Monarch Fest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The family-friendly event will feature music, food, inflatables, games, a paddle board raffle, crafts, vendors and educational activities. The event will be held at Duggan field next to South Bass Island Lighthouse, and OSU Stone Lab will offer lighthouse tours.

Monarch Fest, held on Sept. 13, features all things butterflies. (Submitted photo)

The focus of the event will be Monarch tagging. LEINWC staff have been raising butterflies this summer, and several caterpillars are close to emerging from their chrysalis.

“We have about 40 caterpillars,” said LEINWC Assistant Director Emily Beal. “If some are ready, we will tag them and release them that day.”

Nets will be available so festival attendees can catch wild butterflies on the grounds. Captured Monarchs will be tagged by LEINWC staff. Attendees are also welcome to participate in a Monarch adoption. Anyone who pays to adopt a Monarch will receive a certificate with the butterfly’s tag number.

“If it makes it to Mexico and is recaptured, you’ll be notified,” Beal said.

Beal is hoping for a day filled with Monarchs on the island.

Families can tag butterflies and enjoy many other games and activities at Monarch Fest. (Submitted photo)

“The Monarch population is way up from last year. I’ve been seeing Monarchs constantly and lots of caterpillars, too, which is wonderful,” she said.

Monarch Fest promises to create one more family-friendly adventure on Put-in-Bay.

“We’ve done Monarch tagging in the past, but we tried to make this a big event to make more out of Monarch tagging,” Beal said.

Admission is a $10 suggested donation per family to support the conservation and educational initiatives of LEINWC. The Monarch Fest, on the grounds of the South Bass Island Lighthouse, is about a five-minute walk from the Miller Ferry dock. For more information, visit https://lakeerieislandswildlife.com/monarch-fest/.