A Monarch That Flew the Wrong Way
(More True Stories About Tagged Monarch Butterflies)

August, 2002
Once upon a time —August 20, 2002, to be exact—a monarch butterfly was tagged in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

The tag was found 221 miles away on September 26, 2002, in Neenah, Wisconsin.

  • Look at this map and find Cannon Falls, Minnesota and Neenah, Wisconsin.

Assume the butterfly flew in a straight line between the two places (although this may not be true):

  • Which direction would you expect the butterfly to fly when traveling from Minnesota to Mexico?
  • Which direction did the monarch fly?
  • Why do you suppose it went the way it did?