The Wildlife Habitat Grant Program in Oklahoma is offering residents a chance to get reimbursed for up to $525 worth of native plants per 100 square feet in their gardens. The program aims to address the specific needs of insects and birds in the state, especially as climate change and development threaten pollinators like monarch butterflies.
Participants are encouraged to plant colorful species like purple cornflowers and milkweed in their gardens between spring and fall. Pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides are not allowed in the growing process. Additionally, applicants must apply to the Yard by Yard or Grounds by Grounds programs run by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts.
The decline in monarch butterfly populations has prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose protections for the species. Conservationists in Oklahoma stress the importance of the state’s position in the monarchs’ migratory path, making it a critical place for the butterflies to stop, raise their young, and continue their migration.
The executive director of the Oklahoma Monarch Society, Katie Hawk, highlighted the significance of Oklahoma’s location for monarch butterflies and emphasized the role of residents in providing habitat for these pollinators. The grant applications are due by March 31, offering residents the opportunity to contribute to preserving wildlife in the state.
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