Wisconsin Inmates Raise 100 Monarch Butterflies to Fight Decline

Inside Redgranite Correctional Institute, inmates are caring for some of Wisconsin's most delicate creatures. Twenty prisoners are raising monarch butterflies through a conservation program that gives them purpose while helping a species that's been disappearing across the state.

The Refuge for Growth, Change and Inspiration Monarch Program started in 2024 when organizer Carrie Jahnke wanted to create something meaningful for inmates who couldn't participate in sports. She landed on an idea that would connect them to nature and conservation in an unexpected way.

From June through September, the prison receives monarch caterpillars from Monarch Watch, a nearby breeding center. Inmates work in teams inside a specially built lepidopterium, changing leaves, collecting data on eggs, and tagging butterflies before release.

The work might seem delicate, but it's proven wildly popular. This year, the program cared for 100 caterpillars, up from 60 in its first year.

"I enjoy being part of this program and being able to give back to the community," said Nathan Lecker, an inmate who remembers raising monarchs as a child. "We can make a big impact from the inside."

The butterflies spend just two to three days building strength after emerging from their chrysalises. Then they're released onto prison grounds where landscapers have planted monarch-friendly flower beds to support them before their long flight south to Mexico.

Why This Inspires

This program transforms idle time into conservation action. Inmates learn about pollinator plants, horticulture, and the delicate balance of ecosystems while contributing real data that scientists use to track butterfly populations.

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, which helped build the facility's lepidopterium, sees the partnership as a win for both groups. Shelly Torkelson, the foundation's communications director, said it's wonderful to see the prison getting involved in conservation efforts for a species that's been declining for years.

For the inmates, it's a chance to nurture something fragile and watch it transform. For the monarchs, it's 100 more chances to complete their incredible migration and keep the species alive.