John Ball Park Zoo has been actively involved in the Karner Blue butterfly (KBB) recovery effort in Michigan. In the fall of 2002, the zoo hosted the first KBB meeting focused primarily on education. Since that meeting, zoo staff worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a KBB brochure for distribution. The zoo is continuing to look for opportunities to collaborate with DNR.

A local professor from the zoo's society board is developing a DVD to be used by educators, government officials, and conservation officials to talk to land owners and interested parties about the butterfly. John Ball Park Zoo staff and the staff at Binder Park Zoo are working together to develop curriculum and potential test sites for habitat restoration that would involve elementary schools "adopting" a piece of land and restoring it for butterflies.

The zoo is playing a leading role in teaching the DNR and conservation organizations how to best educate the public about the butterfly. One innovative way they have raised awareness took place during the summer of 2003. All zoo staff wore the Michigan DNR's large and colorful KBB patch on their uniforms for the summer. The patch generated many questions from visitors and proved to be an effective tool for raising awareness.

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