Where You’ll Be:
You will be monitoring butterflies near Trumbull, Colorado. This will take place in Pike National Forest along the South Platte River watershed. This is a critical ecosystem for the butterfly sub-species Hesperia leonardus montana.
What You’ll Do:
Volunteers are needed to assist in monitoring the threatened butterfly sub-species, the Pawnee montane skipper. Monitoring will consist of using binoculars to identify and record the number and gender of skipper butterflies, as well as information about nearby host plants and trees. Please bring your own lunch for the day!
Why It Matters:
The Pawnee montane skipper is a species with a narrow distribution that is endemic, or native, to Colorado. Fire suppression, development of dams and reservoirs, and climate change are all threats to the persistence and recovery of this federally threatened species.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Ages 18+
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered Difficult. Please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Physical Considerations:
Volunteers can expect to hike off trail and in steep terrain up to 5 miles round trip. Elevation ranges from 6,000 ft to 8,000 ft. At this time of year, the weather is usually cool in the mornings but quickly warms to the high 80s or low 90s (though please check the weather in advance).
Access Factors:
- Vehicle Access: No 4WD is required to reach the project area or sample sites; good tires are recommended to avoid flats on gravel roads. Beyond the initial meeting spot, we will aim to use agency vehicles as much as possible to minimize the use of personal vehicles.
- Other Notes: Cell coverage in the area is minimal and depends on the cell service provider.
