This year has seen a decline in numbers for the Western Monarch Butterfly. As noted in a November article from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a recent count taken during mid-November 2020 to the beginning of December 2020 showed about 2,000 Western Monarchs were counted so far during the overwinter season. If the low trend continues, there may only be an estimated 10,000 Western Monarchs overwintering in California this season. This number is a far cry from a count taken two years ago which reflected near 30,000 Western Monarchs that overwintered in California.

Unfortunately, per a court ruling, Western Monarchs cannot be protected by the Endangered Species Act in California because insects are not covered under the act. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife is currently reviewing and considering the request which would be a big win for Western Monarchs and conservationists. A decision could be reached as soon as mid-December per the article.

So, why might numbers of Western Monarch Butterflies be in decline? Well, there are a range of issues such as destruction of Western Monarch habitats due to development and recent wildfires and a lack of rainfall are not helping, either.

Is there anything people can do to help increase the numbers of Western Monarch Butterflies so we can continue to enjoy their presence here in California? There are and everyone can help!

Two things people can do is:

1. Plant native pesticide-free milkweed plants. The best way to do this is to visit the California Native Plant Society (https://www.cnps.org/) website in your region and purchase native seeds to grow at home. The seeds can be grown in small pots before being planted in the ground outdoors. If you live in a small space with no yard, consider growing milkweed plants in pots outside.

2. Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in your garden. Many pesticides have neonicotinoids which is a damaging insecticide that harm invertebrates like butterflies and bees.

Butterflies, just like bees, are important to our ecosystem because of their pollinating abilities. Without pollinators, our crops, flowers, trees, and plants would not be able to grow successfully. Thus, negatively impacting all living things on Earth.

If you would like to participate in the next Western Monarch Butterfly count, visit the xerces.org website for more information.

Gracias!

Source: https://xerces.org/press/monarch-population-in-california-spiraling-to-another-record-low