Recovery program
Karner blue butterfly
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Karner blue recovery plan sets goals for reclassification (i.e. endangered to threatened) and delisting of Karners. Each state has population goals set by recovery units and each state must reach its goals to reclassify or delist Karners. Wisconsin’s five recovery units include the Escarpment and Sandstone Plateau, Glacial Lake Wisconsin, Morainal Sands, Superior Outwash and West Central Driftless recovery units.
Biological recovery zone maps
- Escarpment and Sandstone Plateau
- Glacial Lake Wisconsin
- Morainal Sand
- Superior Outwash
- West Central Driftless
- West Central Driftless and County Forest
The Karner blue recovery goals for Wisconsin include achieving populations large enough for reclassification or for delisting in each recovery unit. The goals for Wisconsin’s recovery units include establishing large viable metapopulations (LVP) that support 6,000 butterflies and viable metapopulations (VP) that support 3,000 butterflies.
| Recovery Unit (RU) | Reclassification Goal* | Delisting Goal* |
|---|---|---|
| Morainal Sands | 1LVP | 2LVP or 2VP + 1LVP |
| Glacial Lake Wisconsin | 2VP + 2LVP | 2LVP + 2VP west of river + 1VP east of the river |
| West Central Driftless | 1VP + 3LVP | 1VP + 3LVP |
| Wisconsin Escarpment and Sandstone Plateau | 1VP | 1LVP |
| Superior Outwash | 2VP | 2VP or 1LVP |
Federal recovery plan
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wisconsin Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan 2003