Elm Ridge Ranch

Elm Ridge Ranch is located in the Blackland Prairie, which is a high priority region for monarch conservation as less than one percent of the native Texas prairie remains.

Exchange staff are working with the landowner to enhance habitat for monarchs by increasing milkweed abundance and wildflower diversity in a pasture that was previously used as a hay field. Because of its past land use history, the pasture has an abundance of non-native grasses. 

To improve habitat quality for monarch butterflies, we will implement mowing practices, to reduce competition from grasses, and plant milkweed plugs. In the future, we will explore with the landowner ways in which non-native grasses such as King Ranch bluestem can be replaced with native species such as little bluestem and indiangrass.

These habitat enhancement activities will greatly benefit monarch butterfly populations.