Image compiled from Oregon Coast Aquarium and Pelican Brewery
I’m not sure if all of you are aware of the fabulous work the Oregon Zoo does with local endangered species but if not you should definitely go read up on their work with Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits, Oregon spotted frog, Western pond turtle, Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly and (the topic of the current post) the Oregon Silverspot butterfly.
The Oregon silverspot butterfly once inhabited most of the coastal grasslands near the Pacific Ocean but was reduced to four Oregon populations by the 1990s. Populations have declined due to habitat loss and degradation mainly from development of coastal headlands, fire suppression, grazing and the invasion of non-native plants that have reduced its host plant population. What is a host plant? Most butterflies rely on a single plant (the host plant) to complete their life cycle. The host plant of the Oregon silverspot butter is the early blue violet.
Early blue violets. Image from USFWS Pacific
A collaborative habitat restoration and reintroduction program with the Woodland Park Zoo, the USFWS, and the Oregon Zoo is helping to increase this butterfly population. The Oregon Zoo alone rears and releases in excess of 2,000 butterflies a year! Those releases will start very soon in the coastal habitats along Oregon and now you can help – by drinking beer.
Pelican Brewery’s Silverspot IPA. Proceeds from drinking this beer go to Oregon Silverspot conservation efforts.
Yes next time you’re sipping a summer beer a a BBQ or on the patio of your favorite brew pub make sure it’s a Pelican Brewery Silverspot IPA. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this beer will help fund conservation efforts for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly. And . . . it’s a GOOD beer, it won the Gold Medal in 2014 for Best of Craft Beer Awards.