humanely ending a monarch's life

[jen]

Hi guys,
I've read on several threads that putting a dying or deformed monarch in the freezer will humanely end his life Has anyone done this that could share? I have a monarch that is near death, found it a bit mangled outside our school yesterday, just laying in the grass. I brought it home, but I don't think it's going to make it. Please let me know how I should do this. Thanks,
Jen

[John Beaulieu]

Hi Jen

I would just put in an envelope or perhaps simply folding some paper to hold it. I'm sure it would be gone quick in the freezer.

Some people will just leave them out for nature to take its course.

John - noticing fewer and fewer monarchs, and most of those are southward bound.

[JenCT]

Hi Jen - I've also tried the freezer method - they die rapidly this way, and seems the most humane to me. Good luck.

[beachbutterfly]

I also freeze any dead monarchs and late in the fall I have a funeral pyre for them.

[butterflysweeti_cdn]

Last year was the first & luckily the only time I had to put two butterflies in the freezer - their wings were very mangled & they couldn't fly or do much of anything. They would fall over & their little legs would grab onto their wings to try & flip over. It was so sad. I came onto Monarch Watch Forums & that was the advice I was given - either put them in the freezer - or put them outside & let nature take it's course.

I didn't want to do either - I wanted to fix their wings.... But I did end up putting them in the freezer, which I was very sad about.

This year, I had another guy fall when emerging. His wings weren't too crumpled - as I found him quickly & attached him back to the top of the screen. But he couldn't fly. I gave him to my niece who played with him for two days. (it was kind of neat, because she could look at him without him flying away)

But then on the third day - the monarch miracaly flew away!!! I was sooo happy to hear that!

[sbannister]

So sorry about your butterflies whose wings didn't form properly! A couple of days ago I found a website that gave instructions on actually fixing monarch wings sucessfully. This was done by glueing normal wings from previously deceased butterflies. I have never heard of this before, nor have I tried it. I will try to find the link when I get home from work and post it here. I think I bookmarked it on my home PC.

Also, Happy New Year to all!

[tdogmom]

Hi,
I euthanize mine by putting them into a plastic baggy then in the freezer.

Some will simply squish the abdomens. They feel that this is more humane.

Personally, I cannot do the squishing method.
Sherry, Waystation #62

[sbannister]

Here's the link to the Monarch "Wing Hospital" I referred to in my earlier post. Check it out!

http://www.livemonarch.com/hospital.htm

It tells you how to repair a wing!

[chanceychelsey]

Thanks Susan

What a great site. I am truely having Monarch withdrawl, and can't wait till May. It's great seeing new postings throughout this white winter of ours.

Sharon
#927

[Mona Miller]

Here's the link to the Monarch "Wing Hospital" I referred to in my earlier post. Check it out!
http://www.livemonarch.com/hospital.htm
It tells you how to repair a wing!

There is a YouTube video of this very thing from Live Monarch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah0SBALIc0o

[sbannister]

O my god, that video is awesome! Thanks for sharing it!

Susan

[Mona Miller]

It is a great video. I've never tried to fix a wing by gluing on another. I have trimmed the edge of a wing that was torn a bit. That will help the butterfly fly better instead of leaving a piece of the wing hanging. The problem starts when the wings are both curled from maybe falling while trying to emerge from the chrysalis.

A butterfly that can't fly can't make it in the wild. I have to decide how bad the situation is. If it is very bad, I opt for the baggie and place it into the freezer to save it from anymore struggle.

[sbannister]

I have been feeding one with crinkled wings inside and it is sad. This one only flaps a little right after I feed him. He likes to hang onto a paper towel on the side of the aquarium. I don't think he's too miserable, or I would do the freezer thing. He is the first one I've ever fed, so at least that has been a great experience for me.

[Mona Miller]

I have a teacher friend (actually I have many teacher friends) who I have been help grow Monarchs for about 5 years now. She had a little fellow last year that had a crumpled wing. She called him Monty and would actually take him home on the weekends, but then bring him back to school every week. She fed him juicy, juicy. She even had someone butterfly sit for her when she was out of town. He lived 2 1/2 months. The kids adored him and so did she. Whenever she talks about him she tears up.

I've even heard of them living 3 1/2 months in the same situation. Damaged wings and being fed.

[sbannister]

Guess what! I took him outside while I worked in my garden, and decided he seemed happier there in the sun and fresh air. I left him out overnight, thinking maybe nature would take its course. But the next morning, he was still there and alive! I brought him in and fed him again, and have repeated this for the past few days. The weather is in the high 70s lately here. He's a pretty tough little guy! i am continuing to check on him....

[Mona Miller]

I've been growing Monarchs for about 15 years now. I've done that too. I figure one day in the sun with freedom is a life worth living. I too have found them day after day still trying to crawl around. When I do find them, I put them back on the flowers.

Good luck with your handicapped little fellow.

[sbannister]

The weather here alternated from nice to horrid in the last month. i would bring him in when weather was bad. He was a trooper.

On the brighter side, my milkweed has sprouted many leaves and even has flower buds. I have brought in the first few eggs that have now hatched, and I am excited that the cycle has begun again! This probably belongs in another thread but I wanted to share that.

Happy Spring to all.

[Mona Miller]

Thank you for sharing the beginning of a new year and new life. Here in VA it is still too cold. Temps dropping down to below 30 still at night with temps rising to about 50 during the day.

We aren't seeing many Monarchs until late May mid June now. There is way too much development in our area that has destroyed most of the habitat. Fields have turned into subdivisions and shopping malls.

[Jeans]

Great video!
would gluing new wings on still work if all four of the butterfly's wings come out deformed?

[Mona Miller]

It would be a pretty big operation, but it just may give them some days of flight.