A special mix of short prairie grasses, wild lupine and other nectaring plants were seeded on this former crop field to provide habitat for the Karner blue butterfly, a federally listed endangered species. Photo by Lisa Nuenfeldt, NRCS.

This Green Bay Field Office Partners for Fish and Wildlife project involved the establishment of 24 acres of grassland habitat on prior cropland in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Because this site is located near habitat occupied by the Karner blue butterfly, a federally listed endangered species, a special mix of short prairie grasses, wild lupine and other nectaring plants were seeded. Karner blue larvae are highly specialized, feeding exclusively on the wild lupine leaves. Without wild lupine, the Karner blue would not survive.  This grassland establishment was done in cooperation with the landowner and the Natural Resources Conservation Service as part of a Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program project. In addition to the Karner blue butterfly, the project will provide valuable habitat for migratory grassland birds and many other wildlife species.