{"id":19982,"date":"2025-10-25T06:33:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T06:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/19982\/"},"modified":"2025-10-25T06:33:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T06:33:11","slug":"festival-canceled-but-monarchs-still-aflutter-at-st-marks-wildlife-refuge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/19982\/","title":{"rendered":"Festival canceled, but monarchs still aflutter at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The federal government shutdown forced the cancellation of this weekend\u2019s Monarch Festival at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, but no one told the monarchs.<\/p>\n

They stop here each year in late October and early November as they migrate south.<\/p>\n

\"MonarchsMonarchs cover the saltbushes near the St. Marks Lighthouse.(WCTV)<\/p>\n

Right now, thousands of monarchs are feasting on the nectar of saltbush and goldenrod in the shadow of the St. Marks Lighthouse. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile they\u2019re here, they\u2019re really busy nectaring,\u201d Sally Jue said as she watched the monarchs through her binoculars. \u201cThe adult monarchs aren\u2019t particular. Whatever flowers have good nectar, they\u2019ll stop and get food and then once they\u2019ve replenished their nutrition, they can continue on their journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MonarchsMonarchs cover saltbushes near the St. Marks Lighthouse.(WCTV)<\/p>\n

Dean and Sally Jue study butterflies and have for decades. The retired FSU scientists have even written a book about them called Finding Butterflies in Florida\u2019s Big Bend Region.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just the monarch\u2019s beauty, they say, that captivates people. It\u2019s the incredible journey they make each year from Canada to Mexico. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s over 3,000 miles,\u201d Dean Jue said. \u201cThe fact that it\u2019s a little insect as opposed to a bird or something like that is what makes it so fascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RetiredRetired scientists Dean and Sally Jue have been studying monarchs and other butterflies for decades.(WCTV)<\/p>\n

This year, the government shutdown forced the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge to cancel its popular Monarch Festival, which usually draws thousands of people. <\/p>\n

Cara Fleischer attends the festival every year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been going for decades. It\u2019s something we do with my mom and my little niece,\u201d Fleischer said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so sad,\u201d Fleischer said when she heard the festival was canceled. \u201cIt was already on our calendar. We had set aside time to go and, you know, I think we\u2019re probably still going to go because the butterflies are still going to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MonarchsMonarchs are covering saltbush and goldenrod in the shadow of the St. Marks Lighthouse.(WCTV)<\/p>\n

Friday morning, nature lovers were flocking to the refuge just to get a glimpse and snap a picture of the majestic monarchs.<\/p>\n

\u201cGorgeous. Absolutely wonderful,\u201d one woman said as she took photos through a telephoto lens.<\/p>\n

Sharon Brock came to see the monarchs too and reminisced about Monarch Festivals with her family in years gone by.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, we\u2019ve seen the bushes full of monarchs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"SharonSharon Brock sported a homemade monarch hat as she stopped by to see the butterflies Friday.(WCTV)<\/p>\n

Brock wore a homemade hat covered in fake monarch butterflies. The back of her hat says it all, \u2018Mexico or bust.\u2019 <\/p>\n

The monarchs will stay in St. Marks for a week, maybe two, resting up and fattening up for the next 1,500 mile trek south of the border. <\/p>\n

The Jues say new technology is helping scientists discover more about monarch migration.<\/p>\n

Scientists are now able to outfit the butterflies with tiny solar powered radio tags, they said, that allow people to record and track their movements with an app on their phone. It\u2019s an app called Project Monarch.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of them are undoubtedly going down to Mexico but there\u2019s also a chance that some of the are actually going down into the Florida peninsula. That\u2019s some of the active monarch research that\u2019s going on right now,\u201d Dean Jue said.<\/p>\n

The St. Marks Wildlife Refuge is still accessible to nature lovers during the government shutdown, but the visitors center is closed and volunteers are helping to take out the trash. <\/p>\n

\"TheThe St. Marks Wildlife Refuge is still accessible to nature lovers, but the visitor center is closed.(WCTV)<\/p>\n

A sign on the gate says \u201cDuring the government shutdown, national wildlife refuges will remain as accessible as possible. We are doing our best to take care of your refuges during the shutdown, but some of the amenities and services may not be available during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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