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Monarch Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies

Monarch butterfly populations are crashing — but we can choose to do something about it
Western Monarch Butterflies Decline By 30%: How You Can Help Protect Them
Monarchs aggregating on a tree at one of their overwintering sites
Despite a Lower Peak Season, Western Monarchs Start Spring in Higher Numbers than 2023
Butterfly Effect: How Scientists Are Trying To Save the Monarch Butterfly
Group of students with pipe cleaner monarch rings on hands
South School's Green Ambassadors Raise Awareness for Monarchs
Cluster of monarchs on tree branches
Western Monarch Count Tallies 233,394 Butterflies
Mariposas monarca que se perchan en racimos
El conteo de la mariposa monarca occidental registró 233,394 mariposas
‘I see a monarch! Oh my God!’: The joy (and importance) of counting butterflies
California milkweed plant
Top 5 Ways Californians Can Help Western Monarchs
Mia Monroe inspecting a milkweed plant
The Monarch Whisperer: Mia Monroe's Data-Driven Devotion
Milkweed seeds in a bin and in someone's hands
Growing the Supply of Hard-to-Find Milkweeds
Monarch butterflies appear to be everywhere these days. Is the crisis over?
Early-season California milkweed
Why Monarchs Need Early-Season Milkweeds
Hundreds of monarchs in the sky near overwintering sites in Mexico
5 Monarch Migration Facts
Monarch caterpillar on narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). (Photo: Xerces Society / Stephanie McKnight)
Keep Monarchs Wild: Why Captive Rearing Isn’t the Way to Help Monarchs
Monarch Wishing Tree holding up hundreds of wooden butterflies
California Garden Center Leads by Example with Monarch Wishing Tree
Monarch drinking nectar from purple coneflower
What is a Monarch’s Favorite Nectar Plant? Scientists are Seeking Your Observations
A cluster of overwintering monarchs
New Year’s Count of Western Monarchs Reveals High Seasonal Decrease Following Severe Winter Storms
Monarch butterflies wintering in California rebound
Noah Raven
Member Noah Raven's Empathy for Monarch Butterflies is Contagious
Western monarchs rebound but still below historic population
With a little human help, this butterfly is back - at least this year
Western monarch populations grew over 100-fold in 2021. Why?
Western monarchs overwintering in California 2021-2022 (Photo: Jessica Griffiths)
New Year’s Count of Western Monarchs Tracks Population Decline During Overwintering Season
Volunteers count monarchs in Pacific Grove Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, December 2021 (Photo: Candy Sarikonda)
Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count tallies nearly 250,000 butterflies
Monarchs at a private overwintering site in Monterey county, CA
Monarchs at the Pacific Grove Butterfly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove, CA
The Bounciness of Butterflies
An area of grassland has been set on fire on purpose. Brown smoke rises into the blue sky from the orange flames that mark the division between the burned and unburned grassland. The burned area to the left is black, the unburned are to the right is green with tall brown stems. A fire manager wearing yellow cloths and a blue helmet is walking along the line of fire.
Burning the Land
Two women stand beside a farm field. One has a black shirt and pale brown pant. The other black pants and a pale brown shirt and is wearing a broad-brimmed hat and carries an orange bag. A strip of brown grass stretches down the edge of the field. Beside the field is an orchard of trees with white trunks and green leaves. In the distance is a green barn and houses with red roofs, and beyond them hills rising toward the blue sky.
The Value of Conservation Planning
A photo of a desert landscape. In the background, brown hills dotted with green shrbs rise toward the blue sky. In the foreground, flowers are in bloom. A row of low shrubs coverd in white flowers stretches away from the viewer toward a clump of short trees.
Climate News: Nature-Based Climate Solutions Address Climate Change and Support Pollinators
A photo that shows a cross section of soil on the side of a pit. The soil is dark brown and crumbling into lumps. The upper part of the photo shows the pale brown straw of the crop growing in the field, and the scuffed brown boots of a farmer.
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – August 2021
Monarch butterfly numbers have plunged. This project near Modesto could help them
Gently undulating rangeland stretches to the horizon. The silver-grey leaves of plants show between the green grass. In the distance a cluster of farm buildings sit in the shelter of trees. Brown and black cattle graze.
Great Plains Rangelands Are Important Habitat for Pollinators
A cluster of several dozen orange-and-black monarch butterflies rest on the branches of a pine tree
Applying a Holistic Approach to Monarch Conservation
A group of men and women stand in the middle of an old hayfield discussing plans for restoring wildflowers.
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – March 2021
Two orange-and-black monarch butterflies drink nectar on yellow-and-red colored flowers. The flowers are tropical milkweed, a non-native plant that should not be grown to help monarchs.
Resident Monarch Populations on the Rise in California: What Does this Mean for the Western Migratory Population?
Graph showing results from surveys of overwintering monarchs in California. The number of monarchs has fallen for several years, so the height of the bars gets shorter and shorter to the right of the graph
Fifth Annual Western Monarch New Year’s Count Confirms Continued Decline in Western Monarch Population
Orange-and-black monarch butterflies cling to the green branches of tress and fly in the blue sky
Monarch Numbers from Mexico Point to Declining Population
Well wrapped against the winter weather, two people walk across a snow-covered field of stubble scattering wildflower seed
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – February 2021
"Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count Data 1997-2020 shows that despite a strong volunteer effort, monarch numbers are at the lowest point recorded since the count started in 1997"
Western Monarch Population Closer to Extinction as the Wait Continues for Monarchs’ Protection Under the Endangered Species Act
Plant trays containing thousands of seedlings are laid out on the ground.
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – December 2020
Three young men use shovels to help plant a new tree in the middle of a grove
Planning and Planting for the Future of Monarchs in California
A handful of monarch butterflies with wings closed rest on the long gray-green leaves of eucalyptus
Monarch Population in California Spirals to Another Record Low
An orange and black monarch butterfly drinks nectar from the creamy-white flowers of mule fat
Western Monarch Breeding Season Status
A man kneels beside a tray of wildflower seedlings, carefully removing each one in readiness for planting them.
Supporting Community Efforts to Create Monarch and Pollinator Habitat in California
Pale pink flowers of narrow-leaf milkweed growing beside a tomato field in California's Central Valley.
Pale pink flowers of narrow-leaf milkweed growing beside a tomato field in California's Central Valley.
Science Notes: How Pesticide Sampling Can Help Restore Imperiled Western Monarchs
Artist Jane Kim of Ink Dwell studio paints the wing of a giant monarch butterfly, part of the Midnight Dream mural in downtown Orlando, Florida.
Migrating Murals
Monarchs stand close together on muddy ground on the edge of a puddle.
Monarchs stand close together on muddy ground on the edge of a puddle.
Monarchs Overwintering in Mexico Down 53%
A monarch with large pieces missing from both wings perches on an evergreen branch.
New Year’s Count Finds Continued Decline of Monarchs Overwintering in California
A long line of people of diverse ages, genders, and races are all sporting bright yellow and black-striped bee outfits in an outdoor festival setting.
Evolution in Attitudes Leads to Greater Interest in Pollinator Conservation
In this hand-drawn/hand-painted image, a grove of trees is shown, with a cut stump and a dead monarch with tattered wings in the foreground.
The Vanishing Butterfly Groves of California
A monarch clings to the trunk of a tree in a dimly-lit landscape.
Thanksgiving Count Shows Western Monarchs Need Our Help More than Ever
In this close-up photo, a monarch perches atop a cluster of small, white and pink flowers. The image is so detailed, you can see the eye of the monarch, and the scales on its wings.
Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Kits Designed to Support Imperiled Western Monarchs
A monarch butterfly perches atop a stalk of purple flowers with thread-like petals sticking out in various directions.
DeWind Alumnae Publish Three New Research Papers about Monarch Butterflies
In this landscape image, rows of green, leafy trees are on the left, and on the right are blossoming cover crops of various colors. There is also blue sky and puffy clouds to round out this idyllic scene.
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – October 2019
With wings spread, a monarch butterfly basks on a milkweed plant among the stems of a tulle marsh.
Western Monarchs: Notes from the Field
What We're Doing to Conserve Endangered Species
Rugged mountains and pine trees, some reddish brown and some green, are shown in this Colorado landscape.
Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – September 2019
A blue butterfly stands out against a backdrop of green foliage.
Insects Lose as Trump Administration Weakens the Endangered Species Act
Two monarchs' wings overlap as they stand back end to back end, mating.
Community Science Powers New Western Monarch Studies
A beautiful, bright orange monarch perches atop bright pink milkweed blossoms.
Working to Conserve Monarchs from Coast to Coast
A tiny monarch egg can be seen in a cluster of pink milkweed blossoms.
New iNaturalist Project Makes it Easier to Submit Data to the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper
An orange and black monarch nectars on the orange flowers of butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).
How to Support Monarch Butterfly Conservation—During Earth Week and Beyond!
Monarch butterfly flying above milkweed.
Community Scientists Can Help Support Imperiled Western Monarchs
A group of scientists taking a photo together, including Emma Pelton, our monarch specialist.
Photo Essay: Trinational Monarch Meeting and Exploring Mexico’s Monarch Overwintering Sites
A western monarch rests on the side of a tree with furrowed bark.
New Year’s Count of Western Monarchs Confirms Decline, Trends Seen in Previous Years
A monarch clings to the trunk of a tree in a dimly-lit landscape.
Record Low Number of Overwintering Monarch Butterflies in California—They Need Your Help!
A monarch, with its wings folded, showing the duller orange side, clings to a rough tree trunk in a dimly-lit landscape.
Early Thanksgiving Counts Show a Critically Low Monarch Population in California
A bright orange monarch with a torn wing perches on some pink milkweed blossoms in a grassy, dry landscape.
Western Monarch Numbers Expected to Be Low this Year
A large creamy-yellow-and-black butterfly rests atop a pale purple flower.
The Striking Beauty of Oklahoma’s Butterflies
A man stands among flowering shrubs that nearly dwarf and obscure him, and that are filled with nectaring monarchs!
Lincoln Brower: A Life Well Spent
Cluster of western monarchs overwintering in California
Managing Monarch Habitat in the West
Monarchs cluster on pine branches, which are backed by blue sky. The butterflies with folded wings are more drab in color, appearing to be dead leaves at first glance. The butterflies with their wings spread display a vibrant orange hue.
Western Monarch Overwintering Site Management
Managing Roadsides and Rights-of-Way for Monarchs
Managing Working Lands for Monarchs
Managing Natural Lands for Monarchs
Monarch Conservation in Gardens, Towns, and Cities
Eastern Monarch Conservation
Western Monarch Conservation
Monarchs in Decline
An orange monarch stands out against a dark green backdrop.
Monarch Butterfly Conservation
milkweed
Native Milkweeds
A monarch nectars on multiple, purple, fluffy flowers growing on a stalk.
Monarch Nectar Plant Guides
A western monarch rests on a white flower amid a dry, grassy field.
Managing for Monarchs in the West
Leafcutter bee on a red and yellow blanketflower.
10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
A graphic has a circle with a line through it superimposed over tropical milkweed, with its characteristic red and yellow flowers.
Tropical Milkweed—a No-Grow
overwintering monarchs
Second New Year's Count Supports Monarchs' Movement Between Sites
A bright orange and black monarch perches on dry flowers in a tan field.
Newly Released Monarch Overwintering Site Management Plan Provides Blueprint for Protecting and Managing Monarch Groves
A lone monarch in shadow perches atop fluffy, pink blossoms.
Very Low Numbers of Monarchs Overwintering in California may Reflect an Unusual Fall
pismo beach monarch grove
From the Field: Counting Monarchs in Pismo Beach
golden crownbeard
Autumn Pollinators in Oklahoma
milkweed seed pod
pod
Harvesting Milkweed Seed: a Pod and a Plan
field of milkweed
1.3 Billion Stems of Milkweed Needed in Midwest to Recover Monarch Population
monarch cluster
First New Year’s Monarch Count Completed
Monarchs cluster on an evergreen tree branch.
2017 Monarch Numbers Are Down, Lengthening a Worrying Trend
monarch cluster
The Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count at 20: A record volunteer effort, but disappointing butterfly numbers
A dense cluster of monarchs, with their bright orange hues shining, cling to a deep green pine branch.
Western Monarch Conservation: A 40 Year History
monarch
To Save Monarchs, We Need More than Just Milkweed
Multiple clusters of monarchs gather on the branches of trees.
Five Lesser-Known Places to See Monarchs Overwintering in California
Monarch butterfly drinking nectar from flowers of narrowleaf milkweed.
Monarch Butterflies in the Western United States
asclepias speciosa
Monarch & Milkweed Workshops Engage Public Land Managers in Western States
monarchs in flight
Monarchs Overwintering in Coastal California Show Steep Decline Since the Late 1990s
monarch cluster
Numbers from 2015 Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count
monarch cluster
A First Glimpse at the State of Western Monarchs
monarch butterfly
All Aboard the Monarch Express