Monarch butterflies could become listed as threatened. How you can help preserve the species

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes listing monarch butterflies as threatened.
Public comments on the proposal are open until March 12 next year.
The monarch population faces significant decline due to habitat loss and climate change.

SALT LAKE CITY — The iconic monarch butterfly, sporting its splashy orange and black wings, has been in serious decline for decades.

Now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for the public to be part of its recovery.

The federal agency is proposing to list the butterfly as threatened, which would kick-start a variety of safeguards to help in its recovery under the Endangered Species Act.

Public comments on the proposal will be accepted through March 12 of next year. After that, the agency will make a determination on whether to list the butterfly.

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

"Science shows that the monarch needs that chance, and this proposed listing invites and builds on unprecedented public participation in shaping monarch conservation efforts. Providing monarchs with enough milkweed and nectar plants, even in small areas, can help put them on the road to recovery. Working together, we can help make this extraordinary species a legacy for our children and generations to come."

This proposed rule will help build on and enhance monarch conservation efforts while balancing activities in support of economic growth.

About monarch butterflies

With its notable orange and black markings, the monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable insects in the world.

In North America, monarchs are grouped into two long-distance migratory populations: the east, the largest that overwinters in the mountains of central Mexico, and the west, which primarily overwinters in coastal California.

Consider this: In the 1980s, over 4.5 million western monarchs flocked to overwintering grounds in coastal California, and an estimated 380 million eastern monarchs made the long-distance journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico in the mid-1990s, completing one of the longest insect migrations in the world.

But the agency says today, the eastern migratory population is estimated to have declined by approximately 80%, and the western migratory population has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, which puts the western populations at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080.

Threats to monarchs include loss and degradation of breeding, migratory and overwintering habitat; exposure to insecticides; and the effects of climate change. Although many people have already helped conserve the butterfly, additional habitat and protections are needed to ensure the species is conserved for future generations, the agency said.

Simple steps such as planting butterfly friendly vegetation can help. Limiting use of pesticides is another way to help the iconic butterfly.

According to Westernmonarchadvocates.com, "Utahns have long enjoyed monarchs arriving in Utah in May — laying eggs and reproducing new generations into September and even early October."

'We need to learn more'

But, the organization stressed that there is a lack of critical data on the monarch breeding habitat in a vast amount of the state.

To assist with monarch conservation efforts, the service is also proposing critical habitat for the species at a portion of its overwintering sites in coastal California. Overwintering habitat provides an essential resting place for monarchs during the cold winter months and helps them prepare for breeding in the early spring.

In total, the agency is proposing 4,395 acres of critical habitat for the western migratory monarch population across Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Ventura counties in California. A critical habitat designation imposes no requirements on state or private land unless the action involves federal funding, permits or approvals.

Many partners across the monarch's range are involved in surveys, monitoring and habitat improvements. Much of this work takes place on private lands with the support of local landowners.

The proposal to list the monarch butterfly and designate critical habitat was published in the Federal Register on Thursday.

Information about how to submit comments can be found on regulations.gov by searching for docket number FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137, which will also include how to attend two virtual public information meetings, and associated public hearings, about this listing proposal.

The agency says everyone can play a role in saving the monarch butterfly. Because of the species' general habitat use and wide distribution, all sectors of society have an opportunity to participate in a broad range of conservation efforts throughout the butterfly's range.

For more information about the monarch listing proposal, and how to help conserve monarch butterflies, visit: fws.gov/monarch.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.