Fun or unusual monarch stories

[Monarch MaMa]

I have a friendly neighbor with a large wild patch of common milkweed growing in their 'wild' backyard. They're happy to share these plants with me so I can feed my caterpillars. I also have some adults in a screen house and I put milkweed stalks with full blooms with them so they can feed off the flowers. While searching for the nicest fullest blooms, I noticed a patch of black fur 6'-7' in front of me on the other side of about 8 plants. I thought - "Oh, there's a cat! No, white stripe too - OH NO - its a skunk!" At this point the skunk noticed me too, we were facing each other. I backed up 5 feet to let it know I was NOT going to bother it. It turned away, for a second I thought it was getting ready to spray me so I backed up another 10' but it just wanted to escape to the nearest shrubs.

My heart was beating - this was a bit too much excitement - but I got my nectar plants & some young sprouts for the 2nd instars I've got. Whew! That was close.

[Mona Miller]

If this was during the day, I'd be more afraid of rabies than of the stink. Be careful.

[Monarch MaMa]

Thanks for your concern, but no, it was dusk, about 8:30pm - 8:45pm. However since it didn't have babies, I assume it was just a young male. A mom with kits probably would have been more aggressive & defensive.

[Mona Miller]

Skunks would probably eat Monarch caterpillars and pupae.