San Francisco - Save The Butterflies!

San Francisco wants to ban butterfly releases.  The proposed resolution addresses many issues that are misconceptions about butterfly releases.  Butterflies are a natural part of our environment.  They help pollinate 75% of the food we eat.  Butterflies released into the environment help birds that eat insects to survive.  Children in schools are raising caterpillars to become butterflies.

With the serious decline in Monarch populations, there aren't enough wild eggs and caterpillars for most classes.  Teachers are buying caterpillars from butterfly breeders for their classrooms.  The ban would mean that all these butterflies must be kept in containers until they die or they must be killed.

“Some of the most outspoken opponents based their criticism on emotion and hypotheticals and have demonstrated what appears to be a deliberate negligence of the fact that virtually no research has been published on the purported negative effects of butterfly releases.” says lepitopterist Harry Pavulaan  Butterfly releases have been popular for over 15 years and there hasn't been one documented case of damage to the environment.

Here are some of the misconceptions being told and what the truth actually is.

MISCONCEPTION: "Bred/released butterflies spread disease into the native population."

TRUTH: All butterfly populations contain diseases; no new diseases will be released into the general population from bred butterflies. Sheri Moreau states: “Commercial breeders who do not maintain pathogen-free breeding conditions are out of business in a season or less.”

MISCONCEPTION: "Monarch butterfly overwintering sites are being plundered by poachers"

TRUTH: This has not been documented to be a problem.  Any cases would immediately receive widespread coverage and condemnation.  Fines for disturbing Monarch butterflies in overwintering sites are large.  News agencies would report on cases of capturing and transporting overwintering butterflies.

MISCONCEPTION: “Releasing farm raised butterflies upsets the balance of the native fauna.”

TRUTH: The term "upsetting the balance" is vague. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized that only nine species of butterflies be allowed to be shipped across state lines into other states where these same butterflies already have native populations.  The species that can be released and the states in which they can be released are listed in the federal decision chart.  Breaking that law results in a $250,000 fine.  Butterfly breeders are NOT earning enough income from butterflies to risk a fine that large.

Dr. Orley ‘Chip’ Taylor, of Monarch Watch, University of Kansas, says, “Butterfly releases are fairly well regulated and should be. At present, only 9 species can be released.  In practice, only two species, the monarch (Danaus plexippus) and the painted lady (Vanessa cardui) are commonly released.”

The biggest losers in this butterfly release ban will be hobbyist breeders, backyard conservationists, educators, and students.  These are people who raise butterflies in their backyards, helping students learn about the life cycle of the butterfly.

MISCONCEPTION: "Butterflies arrive sick, dead or half-dead"

TRUTH: Think about it. If that were happening all the time, there would be no move to ban butterfly releases as people would not continue buying butterflies.

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION!

Let's tell San Francisco that we want to see MORE butterflies, we want to build habitat for them, and we want to stop mowing down host plants that caterpillars need to survive.  Sign and share our petition to tell the San Francisco Board of Supervisors how important butterflies are to our environment.  You can also email the Board of Supervisors yourself to tell them how you feel.  Do that here: Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org