How you can help monarch butterflies migrate south

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Monarchs are flying south, and some organizations are planning events to clear out invasive plants like honeysuckle that are outcompeting the native plants monarchs need to survive.

Monarch butterflies are important for the ecosystem because of how many plants they pollinate. They're migrating south to Mexico this season and will travel back up north in the spring. Along the way, they will make stops in Kansas.

These are some steps you can take to make their journey a little bit smoother.

"We can help them out by planting native flowering plants. Milkweed is an extremely important plant for monarchs. That's actually the only plant that they will lay their eggs on when they are coming back up north," Topeka Zoo Education Director, Hunter Mangel said. "And so having milkweed in your yard, in your backyard, near your house, whatever, that is, going to create an awesome space for those monarchs to come down and lay their eggs. And they're going to be wonderful plants for the caterpillars to eat as well."

Top City Trails Alliance is hosting a park cleanup at Skyline Park on Sept. 13 at 8 a.m.

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