Conservation and Redemption: MCCCW’s Efforts to Save Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterflies

September 4, 2024

By Brendan Baptiste (email) Communications Office

At Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW), an extraordinary program is transforming the lives of both humans and winged insects. Incarcerated individuals at this facility are taking part in a unique conservation effort of raising and caring for the federally endangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. This initiative, known as the Taylor’s checkerspot Captive Rearing Program, is part of the Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP).

This SPP program is a collaboration involves partnerships with The Evergreen State College, Department of Corrections, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The program empowers incarcerated women to play an active role in the survival of a species on the brink of extinction. “Incarcerated individuals in the program earn academic credit through The Evergreen State College, and they also will have been a part of raising and releasing over 55,000 butterflies into Salish lowland prairies.” says Sustainability in Prison Project Co-Director, Kelli Bush.

On August 21, incarcerated individuals participating in the butterfly program were awarded certificates in butterfly conservation and will receive as many as 30 credits for their hands-on academic learning and completion of up to two internship certificates. Through this collaborative effort, the program at Mission Creek is not only contributing to the butterfly’s recovery but also helping participants rediscover their potential.

SPP was also recognized with the Recovery Champions award from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their efforts to save an endangered butterfly in Washington.

Participants have learned the science of conservation and education in nurturing life. Alongside caring for the butterflies, they have gained valuable lessons in teamwork, dedication, and collaboration—skills that will benefit them upon re-entry into society.

“It’s a big honor to those who received awards today because for them it shows that they have worked hard together while finding a sense of purpose.” says Superintendent Bill Swain.

The foundation of their work begins in two greenhouses and a shed on prison grounds, where they guide the butterflies through every stage of their life cycle—from larva to adult. The goal is to help bolster wild populations by breeding the butterflies in captivity and releasing them back into their natural habitats.

Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies were once common across the Pacific Northwest, but over time, their numbers have dwindled due to habitat loss, invasive species, and human development. This small, brightly colored butterfly, with its distinctive orange and black pattern, has become a symbol of the fragility of ecosystems in the region. Designated as a federally endangered species, efforts to restore its population are critical to maintaining biodiversity.

Habitat destruction is the main reason behind the butterfly’s decline. With the expansion of urban areas, agriculture, and forestry, the meadows that once provided the perfect environment for Taylor’s Checkerspot larvae and adults have shrunk. Additionally, the introduction of invasive plants has disrupted the butterfly’s lifecycle, limiting the availability of native plants that caterpillars depend on for food. Without intervention, this species would likely face extinction. The incarcerated individuals working in the program are instrumental to the success of the breeding efforts. As they guide the fragile insects from the larval stage to adulthood and ultimately release them into the wild, they also undergo their own metamorphosis.

“This program was a life changing experience for me as it made me realize what I am truly passionate about,” says Alivia Garcia, incarcerated individual. “It has everything to do with conservation and making sure we have a sustainable earth.” The Taylor's Checkerspot Captive Rearing Program has demonstrated the ability of environmental stewardship and rehabilitation. In a place where hope is often hard to find, this program offers incarcerated women a chance to rebuild not just their own lives but also the future of an endangered species. Through their efforts, Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterflies may once again thrive across the meadows of the Pacific Northwest.