Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Population Supplementation
HomeConnect and ShareFind Conservation ProjectsOregon Silverspot Butterfly Population Supplementation
Project Description
In 1998 the Oregon zoo initiated a zoo rearing and release population supplementation program for the Oregon Silverspot butterfly. The Woodland Park Zoo joined the effort soon after. Adult females are received from the field (currently Mt. Hebo) each Fall. They are induced to lay eggs which are hatched and the larvae (caterpillars) are overwintered in refrigerators. The larvae are removed in the early summer and fed through six instars before release at sites on the coast. Several thousand are released each year.
The Oregon Zoo also participates in habitat restoration by raising and...
Project Map
County: Lane County, OR; Tillamook County, OR
Project Size:
- 115.04 acres
Project Sites
- Site 1 (Not publicly accessible)
- Site 2
- Site 3 (Not publicly accessible)
- Site 4
- Site 5
Goals and Targets
Primary Motivations:
-
Conservation Mission
Inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife.
Primary Goals:
-
Increase and sustain existing populations size and genetic health.
Progress: Population size has increased to near pre-crash levels with population supplementation. No new populations have been established to date.
Consistent With Plans:
-
Nature Conservancy Ecoregional Plan
-
State Wildlife Action Plan
Conservation Strategy Species
-
Species Recovery Plan
USFWS listed species
Targeted Habitats:
- Shrublands and Grasslands
- Grasslands
- Coastal and Valley Grassland
Targeted Species:
No targeted species were identified for this project.
Conservation Actions
| Action | Status | Start Year | End Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reintroduce native species | In Progress | 1998 | -- |
population supplementation |
|||
Outcomes
Is the success of this project's actions being monitored? YesMonitoring Activities
TNC and USFWS partner to conduct annual population index counts and conduct habitat assessments.