The northern metalmark butterfly, endangered in Connecticut, is making a comeback! Timothy Brown of Highstead reports that the 2026 annual butterfly count recorded 39 metalmarks at the survey site in western Connecticut. That’s a big jump from the single-digit counts typically recorded there!

This success can be credited to habitat restoration efforts by Earthplace, Highstead, the Connecticut Butterfly Association, and the Connecticut Botanical Society. Protecting this butterfly and its habitat also benefits many other native plants and wildlife.

Brown’s article, featuring insights from Earthplace Conservation Manager Faith Novella, is available to read at highstead.net.

Highstead is a nonprofit based in Redding, Connecticut, dedicated to accelerating land protection and ecological stewardship across New England and beyond.