BP
Kelley Mine Butterfly Byway
Butte, Montana, United States
Certified through 2024
The Kelley Mine is located in, Butte, Montana, about 90 miles west of Bozeman. Historically, copper, silver and gold were all mined from the site. The team manages a 6,000-square-foot pollinator garden that was planted in 2019 with the goal of increasing habitat for pollinators in an urban area. The team selected plants that would provide nectar sources throughout the spring, summer and fall to attract pollinators.
Practices and Impacts
- The team manages a 6,000-square -foot pollinator garden at the site. Maintenance activities include weeding, mulching and adding new plants.
- The team monitors the garden to see what pollinators are utilizing the site. Monitoring takes place bi-monthly throughout the summer. A large variety of pollinator species have been noted, including butterflies, bees and flies. The team has seen the number of pollinators in the area increase since the garden was planted in 2019.