Monarch Whisperers Release Thousands of Butterflies into Wild

The Brausen family of Little Falls has been called the 'Monarch whisperers' for their dedication to raising and releasing thousands of Monarch butterflies.

Over the past decade, Daniel and Renae Brausen have released over 1,500 butterflies this year alone, and a total of thousands more since they started their project.

The couple's work involves raising the butterflies from egg stage to adulthood, which can be challenging due to various predators that target them early on in their life cycle.

Renae Brausen explained that Monarch butterfly eggs are laid on milkweed plants and take about four to seven days to hatch, depending on temperature. The caterpillars then go through a massive growth spurt, increasing their body mass 2,000-3,000 times before forming a chrysalis.

The Brausens have developed a setup to raise the butterflies, using modified aquariums with screens and old newspaper to line them. They also take precautions to minimize harm to the butterflies, washing their hands thoroughly before handling them.