www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi all,
ok so there was a hibernating butterfly in our stairwell last week. It was definitely in danger of getting stood on/eaten by the one eyed dog that roams around our tenement, so I opted to pick it up and move it. We don't have a private garden or anything like that, so I put it on the windowsill in our stairwell (which is still not so warm that it'll wake up before spring).
Now I'm worried about spiders! It's a pretty dusty area and I'd be heartbroken if it got eaten or anything.

So can I please ask the experts! Can anyone recommend somewhere safer I can move it to? I was thinking we could but it in a box on our windowsill. Or maybe somewhere in our local park? What's the best thing to do?

Yours hopefully

Lucy

Somewhere dark and unheated would be best. Any sheds/outhouses nearby?

No, no sheds or anything like that

Here's a pic (if this helps)

That Peacock looks dormant but healthy. One option might be to put it in a plastic container and keep in the fridge. No need for air holes in the box, there will be enough oxygen to last till spring. Then on the first fine sunny day after say mid March, bring into the light BUT NOT DIRECT SUN and let it warm up slowly. It will be obvious when it is ready to fly away.

Jack

Looks to be in good condition. As Jack says, it's okay to keep it in a container as its systems have largely shut down, but keep an eye on it and when it stirs (probably mid March), give it the opportunity to make an escape.