Episode Details

A tiny butterfly once common across Minnesota’s prairies is now clinging to survival—thanks to a heroic, cross-border conservation effort. The Poweshiek skipperling, nearly wiped out by habitat loss, now lives in just a few spots in Michigan and Manitoba. Zoos in the U.S. and Canada teamed up to save it, launching captive breeding in 2012 from a tiny founding population of just 18 females. Thousands have been released into the wild, with another 1,500 set to fly free this July. Signs are hopeful—reintroduction to Minnesota may happen soon. Listed as endangered since 2014, each butterfly sports a tracking dot, reminding us that even the smallest species hold big roles in our ecosystems.

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