Home - Garden
Why You Should Avoid Planting Milkweed Next To Your Bird Feeder
By TIFFANY SELVEY
While milkweed is crucial for monarchs to lay their eggs, planting it near bird feeders draws predators that pose a threat to the butterflies at various stages of their lifecycle.
Birds known to feed on monarch caterpillars and adults — such as the California towhee, starlings, scrub jays, and chestnut-backed chickadees — often gather around these feeders.
Moreover, the area under these feeders becomes a hotspot for rodents like mice, lured by the seeds dropped by birds. They also find monarch chrysalides nearby an appealing snack.
Similarly, placing hummingbird feeders near milkweed attracts ants and flies, which can endanger monarchs in their egg and larval stages.