Despite being on the endangered species list, Mission Blue Butterflies are thriving in SF’s Twin Peaks. And even more will soon join the colony, as SF’s Rec and Park’s Natural Areas Program is partnering with San Mateo County Parks and Creekside Science Center for Earth Observation to collect even more Mission Blue Butterflies from San Bruno Mountain and release them in Twin Peaks.
Mission Blue Butterflies, which were awarded Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s Species of the Year award in 2011, have been on the endangered species list since 1976, granting them special protection under law. According to the Butterfly Conservation Initiative, the Mission Blue Butterfly was discovered in 1937 in the Mission District of San Francisco.
Wikipedia says that the species can only be found in a few places, including Fort Baker, the Marin Headlands, and Laurelwood Park, Sugarloaf Open Space, and Skyline Ridge in San Mateo.
Though urbanization and the spread of invasive species have reduced their SF habitat, SF Rec and Park’s Natural Areas Program has effectively determined that Twin Peaks can successfully support the full life cycle of the butterfly. So, they’re hoping to breathe new life into the SF group of butterflies by moving some from the San Mateo pack here.
Though the repopulation effort was scheduled for today, “due to weather impact,” says SF Rec and Park, the event has been rescheduled, with a date yet to be determined.
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