A prison in Wisconsin has found an unexpected way to help a struggling species. At Redgranite Correctional Institute, about twenty inmates are raising monarch butterflies from caterpillars, feeding them, collecting data, and tagging each one before it migrates to Mexico. The program launched in 2025 and just wrapped its second season with 100 caterpillars raised, up from 60 the year before.

The effort comes together with help from Monarch Watch, which supplies the caterpillars, and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. Organizer Carrie Jahnke brought the idea to life, and landscapers added monarch-friendly flower beds around the prison grounds so the butterflies have a proper launching point. The program runs June through September, right in the middle of migration season.

For participants, the appeal goes beyond the science. One inmate said he enjoys being part of the program and giving back to the community. Another put it simply: “We can make a big impact from the inside.” With monarch populations facing real challenges, this is conservation and rehabilitation happening in the same room. Would you ever try raising butterflies at home?