Monarch Butterfly Population Plummets: WV Can Help
Monarch Butterflies have a special place among insects.
They are fascinating little flying pieces of artwork from their caterpillar rebirth to their extraordinary and unparalleled insect migration thousands of kilometers, to their bold orange and black polka dots they pollinate our gardens.
We could be about to lose them.
From CBS News: Monarch buttfly population in western U.S. nears 30 year low
“The organization announced Friday that it counted just 9,119 monarchs in 2024,
a decrease of 96% from 233,394 in 2023.
The total was the second-lowest since the survey began in 1997.
The record-low was 1,901 monarchs in 2020.”
Monarch Butterfly: Profile of a Species at Risk, Government of Canada
“Western Monarchs breed in southern British Columbia and migrate south to spend the winter in coastal California. …
The Monarch relies on milkweed plants for breeding and is found where milkweed grows…..
The Government of Canada listed the Monarch as an endangered species under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) in December 2023.
This provides legal protection to the Monarch on federal lands in Canada…
A Monarch Butterfly count in California revealed a tragic 96% drop. It is being attributed to climate and urban development.
Amazing Monarch Butterfly Facts From Hinterland Who’s Who:
“The Monarch Butterfly:
- migrates thousands of kilometres in vast numbers twice a year, a feat likely not performed by any other insect on earth
- has been observed flying more than 1 km above the ground…
- is brightly coloured in both its larval and adult forms, a warning to potential predators that it is poisonous…
- has recovered from population losses approaching 90 percent in the past but may not be able to rebound from the population levels to which environmental factors are now pushing it”
How Can West Vancouver Help?
Here is a list of ways to help from Pollinators.org. “How you can help Monarchs::
- “Plant milkweed! Monarch caterpillars need milkweeds to grow and develop.
- There are over 100 milkweed species that are native to North America, many of which are used by monarchs…: www.monarchwatch.org…
- Plant butterfly nectar plants! …
- Monarchs need nectar to provide energy as they breed, for their migratory journey, and to build reserves for the long winter
- avoid using pesticides….
- Download the FREE Monarch Plant List in PDF format
- Encourage public land managers to create monarch habitat! Roadsides and parks..
- Join citizen-science efforts to track monarch populations! The data collected by hundreds of citizen scientists across the country are used by monarch scientists.
- Support monarch conservation efforts.”