Leamington woman raising monarch butterflies to help boost population

An Ontario woman is trying to do her part to boost the population of monarch butterflies.

Darlene Burgess, who lives in Leamington, Ont., just outside the gates of Point Pelee National Park, is raising the insects from eggs until they emerge into full-grown monarchs.

She planted milkweed at her home, in order to attract monarchs to her property. After they lay eggs, she cuts out part of the milkweed leaf and moves it to a container, where they can hatch.

Burgess told CBC News she has found it tough to see some of them leave, after watching them develop at her home.

"I feel good, there's the odd time when I'll be emotional over one that was just a little bit different in raising, maybe had a little problem of some kind," she told CBC News in an interview.

"And I'm carrying it out to release it and you do get a little emotional releasing that."

So far, Burgess has released 10 adult monarchs to the wild. She's intending to release another 150 during the summer.

The population of monarchs is expected to be down in Ontario this year, after a rainy and cold spring, which delayed their migration into the province.