How you can help protect pollinators

Discover how to help protect endangered butterflies, bees and dragonflies during a free program that aims to preserve the local populations of pollinators.

"Beyond Monarchs: Preserving Endangered Butterflies, Bees and Dragonflies" begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. The free program is co-hosted by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and DuPage Monarch Project. Registration is not required.

Forest Preserve District ecologist Andres Ortega will discuss conservation efforts in local forest preserves for Baltimore checkerspot butterflies, Hine's emerald dragonflies and rusty-patched bumblebees. The program also will provide practical strategies for homeowners and communities to help protect butterflies and other pollinators.

The district is closely monitoring a colony of Baltimore checkerspot butterflies and Hine's emerald dragonflies along the Des Plaines River and leading a captive rearing-and-release program for Hine's emerald dragonflies at its Urban Stream Research Center at Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville. The district also is monitoring populations of rusty-patched bumblebees in DuPage forest preserves and applying its findings to land management decisions and policies to increase and improve habitat for these endangered insects.

"Pollinators are being adversely affected, and it is our responsibility to protect and restore those populations. Their decline affects us all," district President Joe Cantore said.

"We are focusing on these three species in an effort to protect and improve the habitat that they and many other native insects rely on," District 2 Commissioner Jeff Redick said.

For information, call (630) 933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org.