Butterflies must be shot at to survive

The St Francis Satyr Butterfly

Yes, you read the title correctly. I didn't believe it at first either, but I was listening to ABC radio in the car and they were playing an item from National Public Radio in the US.

'Military bases turn out to be a haven for endangered species. A decision long ago by the military that working with conservationists was a better strategy than fighting them is one of the reasons why...In fact, bases have the highest density of threatened and endangered plants and animals of any federal lands, even more than national parks like Yellowstone. '

Really? This tiny butterfly is one example. Its species needs to be 'disturbed' in order for it to survive. When the military fires artillery it causes fires in both the forests and wetlands, opening them up, and creating a habitat that encourages the butterflies to reproduce.

And it takes a brave man to help make it happen.

Brave butterfly catcher, biologist Nick Haddad

Two days a year, Nick Haddad, accompanied by an explosives expert (because there is unexploded artillery!!!) goes onto the firing range and catches butterflies to be used in a breeding program on the army base. The next generation of butterflies is released into sites around the army base where they have recreated the ideal habitat, minus the artillery.

So yes, it's true: artillery fire ensures the survival of this butterfly species. Not everybody knows that!