Millions Of Monarch Butterflies Are Headed Straight For South Dakota This Spring

Are there monarch butterflies in South Dakota?
Yes, South Dakota does have monarch butterflies. The monarch butterfly migration covers pretty much all of the United States other than Alaska. However, in rare instances, Alaska's southern corner has seen the occasional monarch butterfly. Some of the best places to spot monarch butterflies in South Dakota are at these arboretums and gardens:

• McCrory Gardens, Brookings, SD
• Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, Sioux Falls, SD
• Terrace Park Japanese Gardens, Sioux Falls, SD

When is the best time to see monarch butterflies in South Dakota?
The best time to see monarch butterflies in South Dakota is in mid to late June. But you can expect to see them start to arrive around mid to late May in South Dakota. However, the monarch butterflies you'll see in the summer in SD are several generations removed from the initial butterflies that left Mexico in the spring. A wonderful place to see butterflies of all kinds year-round in Sioux Falls is at the Butterfly House & Aquarium.

When do monarch butterflies migrate through South Dakota?
South Dakota falls in the summer breeding area for monarch butterflies, so these beautiful butterflies will reach SD in early to mid-summer and immediately start laying eggs. The batch of monarchs that hatch in the fall are designed differently than previous generations. They are more physically able to handle the strenuous flight south toward Mexico. The fall migration usually begins around September.