Monarch butterflies have bene endangered for a while now (since 1990). In 2017, their numbers increased, but in 2018, the population of Monarch butterflies suddenly plummeted dramatically, again. Only 30,000 Monarchs were counted on the California coast in 2018. That's an 86% drop since the previous year of 2017 (read more). Monarch populations have plummeted about 96% since the 1980s when there used to be up to 4.5 million monarchs that migrated every year. It's up to us as human beings to help these butterflies before it's too late, and together we can help these guys reach back to 4.5 million butterflies.
Why Are Monarchs Endangered?
One of the biggest causes of Monarch population decline is habitat loss. This includes the loss of the forests they hibernate to every year; as well as the loss of milkweed. Causes of losing milkweed include pesticide use, and Climate Change causing the milkweed to become too toxic for the butterflies. Climate change also poses a threat to the butterfly itself because the high temperatures cause the butterflies to migrate late and by the time it's too late to migrate, it's become too cold and the butterflies die, and the eggs they laid within that late time frame, will also die of the cold (read more about this.) It's up to us to save monarchs and other fellow nature friends from climate change and the things that destroy them. Together we CAN make a change!
One of the biggest causes of Monarch population decline is habitat loss. This includes the loss of the forests they hibernate to every year; as well as the loss of milkweed. Causes of losing milkweed include pesticide use, and Climate Change causing the milkweed to become too toxic for the butterflies. Climate change also poses a threat to the butterfly itself because the high temperatures cause the butterflies to migrate late and by the time it's too late to migrate, it's become too cold and the butterflies die, and the eggs they laid within that late time frame, will also die of the cold (read more about this.) It's up to us to save monarchs and other fellow nature friends from climate change and the things that destroy them. Together we CAN make a change!
So Here's How You Can Help
Plant Milkweed
The BEST thing you can do for a monarch is to plant milkweed. Although rearing Monarchs in captivity can help, it does not expose Monarchs to the natural habitat that they are adapted to. Raising Monarchs is more of an educational experience rather than a way to drastically help Monarch butterflies.
Milkweed is the Monarchs' host plant, meaning they will not lay their eggs on anything else than milkweed. Planting milkweed is the best way you can help Monarchs, and we encourage our readers to consider planting milkweed over doing any of these other tips. Milkweed ensures that there's enough food and resources for the butterflies to lay eggs and hatch. Without milkweed, there's no Monarchs.
Make sure when you're planting your milkweed, you only plant native milkweed to your area. See the PDF below where you can find the native milkweed species to your area. Also, milkweed is a picky plant, so it's best to scatter the seeds around public areas, or your home, during the fall. Additionally, milkweed is also a plant that LOVES water. That's why, especially Taos, you will find that almost all the milkweed grows in road ditches. So make sure when you're planting your milkweed, plant it in a place that can be watered very frequently, or collects a ton, and we mean a ton, of water naturally. By planting milkweed, you're doing the Monarchs' a big favor, and you may discover some start to come around to your house more often! Learn more about how to plant milkweed.
Don't Use Pesticides In Your Garden
Pesticide use is the biggest cause of the Monarch population decline. The pesticides kill milkweed, as it is a plant that spreads easily, thus providing no host plant for the Monarch to lay its eggs on. Additionally, the pesticide can go into the Monarchs body through flowers or become airborne, eventually killing the Monarch. Find other ethically friendly ways to kill unwelcome weeds, and avoid doing so on milkweed.
Take Your Part in Fighting Against Climate Change
Taking your part in fighting climate change is very important. Climate change is also having an impressive effect on not just the whole world, but definitely Monarchs, and milkweed. The warmer temperatures confuse the Monarch butterfly migration, and when they lay their eggs. The higher temperatures affect that whole system they have every year and can completely disrupts their migration cycle. It's up to us as humans to do our individual parts in fighting climate change and together, as a whole, we can reverse it. Start by looking at your carbon footprint and practicing different methods that are better for the environment, and spread the word!
Raise Monarchs
Raising Monarchs is pretty easy, however not as great as planting milkweed. As said above in the section "Planting Milkweed," captive rearing Monarchs, especially indoors as opposed to outdoors, is more of a project for experience and education. Planting Milkweed and taking steps to combat climate change are the best ways that Monarchs can survive for centuries. Raising Monarchs can help though, and it is not very difficult either, and it is best if you raise them outdoors. Raising Monarchs in your own home or classroom may ensure that the caterpillars will survive as they are protected from diseases and pests. Out in the wild there's lots of threats that can hinder wether they will life to become a butterfly. Mostly it is a very educational project for youth and in classrooms. At best, try to rear them outdoors. This creates a great compromise between ensuring they are acclimated to the environment, and you are able to watch them grow as well. Make sure that before you start rearing your monarchs, you research as much as possible so that you are prepared.
Read more: "Keep Monarchs Wild" - Xerces Society
Tag Monarch Butterflies
We offer monarch butterfly tagging workshops with youth here with our club so that youth can learn about how to tag Monarchs in the field. If you are unable to participate in these projects/workshops, we have a whole page that elaborates on how you can start tagging Monarchs on your own. Tagging Monarch butterflies is very important to saving them because it helps scientists learn about their migration patterns, and additionally helping us learn more about how we can help them. Learn about how to tag Monarchs. Not only is it helpful and important, its also such a fun, cool, and an inspiring experience!. Learn more about our work and how we help monarch butterflies.
Spread the Word!
Spreading the word to anyone you encounter is extremely important, as well. Informing the public about the severity of the monarch population decline, and how important it is to save them, will inspire others to do their part as well. Tell others about what they can do!
The BEST thing you can do for a monarch is to plant milkweed. Although rearing Monarchs in captivity can help, it does not expose Monarchs to the natural habitat that they are adapted to. Raising Monarchs is more of an educational experience rather than a way to drastically help Monarch butterflies.
Milkweed is the Monarchs' host plant, meaning they will not lay their eggs on anything else than milkweed. Planting milkweed is the best way you can help Monarchs, and we encourage our readers to consider planting milkweed over doing any of these other tips. Milkweed ensures that there's enough food and resources for the butterflies to lay eggs and hatch. Without milkweed, there's no Monarchs.
Make sure when you're planting your milkweed, you only plant native milkweed to your area. See the PDF below where you can find the native milkweed species to your area. Also, milkweed is a picky plant, so it's best to scatter the seeds around public areas, or your home, during the fall. Additionally, milkweed is also a plant that LOVES water. That's why, especially Taos, you will find that almost all the milkweed grows in road ditches. So make sure when you're planting your milkweed, plant it in a place that can be watered very frequently, or collects a ton, and we mean a ton, of water naturally. By planting milkweed, you're doing the Monarchs' a big favor, and you may discover some start to come around to your house more often! Learn more about how to plant milkweed.
Don't Use Pesticides In Your Garden
Pesticide use is the biggest cause of the Monarch population decline. The pesticides kill milkweed, as it is a plant that spreads easily, thus providing no host plant for the Monarch to lay its eggs on. Additionally, the pesticide can go into the Monarchs body through flowers or become airborne, eventually killing the Monarch. Find other ethically friendly ways to kill unwelcome weeds, and avoid doing so on milkweed.
Take Your Part in Fighting Against Climate Change
Taking your part in fighting climate change is very important. Climate change is also having an impressive effect on not just the whole world, but definitely Monarchs, and milkweed. The warmer temperatures confuse the Monarch butterfly migration, and when they lay their eggs. The higher temperatures affect that whole system they have every year and can completely disrupts their migration cycle. It's up to us as humans to do our individual parts in fighting climate change and together, as a whole, we can reverse it. Start by looking at your carbon footprint and practicing different methods that are better for the environment, and spread the word!
Raise Monarchs
Raising Monarchs is pretty easy, however not as great as planting milkweed. As said above in the section "Planting Milkweed," captive rearing Monarchs, especially indoors as opposed to outdoors, is more of a project for experience and education. Planting Milkweed and taking steps to combat climate change are the best ways that Monarchs can survive for centuries. Raising Monarchs can help though, and it is not very difficult either, and it is best if you raise them outdoors. Raising Monarchs in your own home or classroom may ensure that the caterpillars will survive as they are protected from diseases and pests. Out in the wild there's lots of threats that can hinder wether they will life to become a butterfly. Mostly it is a very educational project for youth and in classrooms. At best, try to rear them outdoors. This creates a great compromise between ensuring they are acclimated to the environment, and you are able to watch them grow as well. Make sure that before you start rearing your monarchs, you research as much as possible so that you are prepared.
Read more: "Keep Monarchs Wild" - Xerces Society
Tag Monarch Butterflies
We offer monarch butterfly tagging workshops with youth here with our club so that youth can learn about how to tag Monarchs in the field. If you are unable to participate in these projects/workshops, we have a whole page that elaborates on how you can start tagging Monarchs on your own. Tagging Monarch butterflies is very important to saving them because it helps scientists learn about their migration patterns, and additionally helping us learn more about how we can help them. Learn about how to tag Monarchs. Not only is it helpful and important, its also such a fun, cool, and an inspiring experience!. Learn more about our work and how we help monarch butterflies.
Spread the Word!
Spreading the word to anyone you encounter is extremely important, as well. Informing the public about the severity of the monarch population decline, and how important it is to save them, will inspire others to do their part as well. Tell others about what they can do!
SCIENTISTS NEED YOUR HELP
Post your monarch sightings (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly) to iNaturalist!
Very little information is available about where in New Mexico monarchs are living. This project helps scientists better understand how the monarch uses the Rio Grande area during its lifecycle.
Download the iNaturalist app or visit their website. Create an account and then go to the "Monarchs Along the Rio Grande in New Mexico" project. Post your monarch sightings on this project. Everyone is invited to participate!
This project is sponsored by the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Download the iNaturalist app or visit their website. Create an account and then go to the "Monarchs Along the Rio Grande in New Mexico" project. Post your monarch sightings on this project. Everyone is invited to participate!
This project is sponsored by the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo credits: Florida Museum of Natural History