Karner Blue Butterfly Gets New Habitat

New Hampshire’s last stronghold for the endangered Karner blue butterfly is getting protected — the state just bought seven acres of critical pine barrens habitat for $575,000, bringing the species one step closer to recovery after nearly vanishing in the 1990s. Once widespread, these butterflies now rely on sunny meadows with wild lupines, a niche environment threatened by development and fire suppression. Thanks to a captive rearing program by the state and National Guard, the butterfly’s population is rebounding — but it’s still federally endangered. This new land, adjacent to existing conservation areas and long off-limits to the public, will now allow scientists to expand their restoration efforts and support other rare species that call this fragile ecosystem home. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2c5347add98f1ec0