Finally! Monarch Butterflies on U.S. Endangered List

By Jill Brooke

After years of warnings from environmentalists that populations of monarch butterflies are perilously diminishing,  U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials announced a decision this week to extend federal protections to monarch butterflies.

With its iconic orange and black markings, the monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable species in North America. Monarchs are particularly remarkable because they migrate each year, flying from as far as Canada and across the United States to congregate at a few forested overwintering sites in the mountains of central Mexico and coastal California. These sites are an amazing phenomenon: thousands of monarchs cluster in the trees in California, and millions of monarchs drape large swathes of forest in Mexico. Monarch butterflies are also the only butterflies known to migrate two ways, like birds.

But over the past two decades, monarch numbers in North America have declined. Culprits include both climate change and pesticides – especially round-up – poisoning their food supply,

The most recent population counts show a decline of 85% for the eastern U.S. population that overwinters in Mexico and a decline of 99% for monarchs west of the Rockies, which overwinter in California. Both populations are well below the thresholds at which government scientists estimate the migrations could collapse.

It is estimated up to 80% probability of population collapse for eastern monarchs within 50 years and a 96-100% probability for the western population. Fewer than 2,000 total western monarchs have been counted so far this winter in the annual census in California.

“Forty-seven species have gone extinct waiting for their protection to be finalized,” said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Monarchs are beautiful, they play important roles in nature and culture, and their migrations are jaw-dropping. We owe them and future generations an all-in commitment to their recovery.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to add the butterfly to the threatened species list by the end of next year following an extensive public comment period.

“The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating life cycle,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said in a news release. “Despite its fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance.”

The Endangered Species Act affords extensive protections to species the wildlife service lists as endangered or threatened. Under the act, it’s illegal to import, export, possess, transport or kill an endangered species. Climate change is impacting their migration as is pesticides.

What is also remarkable about the monarch butterflies is their role as pollinators and their fast growth.

We can all help by planting flowers and plants that welcome these beloved pollinators, Especially milkweed. The gold spots we love and marvel at on the Monarch Butterfly chrysalises are due to carotenoid pigments which comes from – you guessed it – their milkweed diet.

“Milkweed ( Aselepias tuberosa ) draw Monarch butterflies and is by far the best for Monarch butterflies,” says gardening expert Lawrence Leaf. “Next in line I would use Lantana which is perennial in southern states and annual to the north. Cosmos and Zinnias are strong blooming annuals that draw Monarch butterflies.  Butterfly Bush ( Buddleja ) and Goldenrod ( Solidiago) do draw Monarch butterflies however give them room and take out unwanted plants as they can be invasive.”

So start planting and let’s be part of the solution in helping Monarch butterflies thrive and bring us all such pleasure and beauty.

Afterall, we delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”