In the early 2000s, the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly was teetering on the edge of extinction. But thanks to a two-decade-long partnership between local, state, federal, and nonprofit leaders – and consistent funding from the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP) – this rare pollinator is once again fluttering through the South Sound prairies.
With the support of a WWRP grant, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) began implementing the South Puget Sound Prairies Site Conservation Plan in 2002 – kickstarting a long-term vision to protect and restore rare prairie and oak woodland ecosystems. Since then, DFW and the WA Department of National Resources (DNR) received over a dozen WWRP grants to continue their work, supporting everything from invasive species removal to improving recreation access. These projects have restored over 1,400 acres of rare prairie-oak habitat across sites like Scatter Creek and Violet Prairie.
Major milestones include:
- 2008–2016: Expansion of seed production and large-scale restoration across five priority prairie sites.
- 2016–2020: Over 790 acres restored, with passive recreation opportunities integrated into project design.
- 2019: Acquisition of more than 1,300 acres in the Scatter Creek Unit for the Taylor’s checkerspot and the Mazama pocket gopher.
- 2022–2024: New efforts at Violet Prairie to improve critical habitat and increase public access.
The South Sound prairies are among the rarest and most ecologically important landscapes in Washington – providing vital habitat not only for butterflies, but also for threatened Mazama pocket gophers, native plant communities, and other essential pollinators. Thanks to sustained funding and collaboration, restoration efforts are still going strong. While some projects are just wrapping up, new grants are already extending this work through 2026 – ensuring the momentum continues.
This project is changing human lives as well. Through the Sustainability in Prisons Project, incarcerated women at Mission Creek Corrections Center have helped raise and care for thousands of Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies – an experience many describe as healing, meaningful, and transformative.
This is what long-term conservation looks like: a shared vision, deep partnerships, and steady investment in the land we all depend on.
Read more about the butterfly’s comeback and the human impact of this project on KUOW.
