Monarch Butterflies to be Focus of Rieck Center Spring 2018 Open House

Say goodbye to your winter-induced cabin fever by venturing back outdoors this weekend! The University of Findlay Rieck Center for Habitat Studies’ annual Spring Open House and Earth Day celebration will be held Sunday, April 22 at 1:30 p.m. The event will be free and open to the public.
A program, which will feature a presentation and a short hike, will focus on monarch butterflies. A limited number of milkweed seeds or small starts will be available for people to take home for their gardens. Snacks will be served.
Monarch populations have been in decline over the past 20 years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Planting milkweed, which is the only food source for monarch caterpillars, can provide essential resources for improving species survival.
Located between Findlay and Arlington at 17311 County Road 166, the Rieck Center encompasses 54 acres, which include two miles of trails that weave through woodlands, grasslands, along wetlands and past a variety of other habitats. It is open to the public all year, and is used by various UF science classes for observation, study, research and recreation.
For more information on what the site has to offer, visit www.rieckcenter.org. Questions can also be directed to Ben Dolan, Ph.D., director of natural areas and plant collections at UF, and associate professor of biology, at dolan@findlay.edu and at 419-434-5530.