Thank you! *hugs back* They are probably very loving parents taking the time to try to do something enriching for their kids, but without a clue on the ramifications of capturing a live creature. I hope this incident leads them to do some research on it, rather than just imparting a wariness for crazy ladies who they must look out for when going ahead on another family netting expedition.

I'm just a little blown away that, whether or not it was Verid, the only hour I went down to Greenbelt Lake this weekend coincided with the hour when a female monarch was taken captive, just 3 days after I released a female monarch there, and I am truly grateful I had the opportunity to catalyze her release, but the fact that there was a family there hunting and capturing butterflies at this time was just a really bizarre occurrence.

And gosh, that other butterfly fluttering along that branch to approach her really touched my heart. Two monarchs, not one, were affected by these events. Even if it were the first time it saw her, and wasn't already her companion searching for her release, it saw her then and wanted her companionship for the long journey south, social beings that monarchs are. Dawwwwww. I am a fulfilled ranger-yenta. (-: