An annual winter count by the Xerces Society recorded fewer than 2,000 butterflies, a massive decline from the tens of thousands tallied in recent years and the millions that clustered in trees from Northern California's Marin County to San Diego County in the south in the 1980s.
On the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, another monarch population travels from southern Canada and the northeastern United States across thousands of miles to spend the winter in central Mexico. Scientists estimate the monarch population in the eastern U.S. has fallen about 80% since the mid-1990s, but the drop-off in the western U.S. has been even steeper.
“These sites normally host thousands of butterflies, and their absence this year was heartbreaking for volunteers and visitors flocking to these locales hoping to catch a glimpse of the awe-inspiring clusters of monarch butterflies,” said Sarina Jepsen, director of endangered species at the Xerces Society.
A 2017 study by Washington State University researchers predicted that if the monarch population dropped below 30,000, the species would likely go extinct in the next few decades if nothing is done to save them.
If people would stop using insecticides in a broad strokes fashion, we'd see way less decline. Instead, people like to believe they're gardeners and horticultural specialists doing no harm for a homegrown cucumber or rosebush.
Sad
I have seen more of them in the last couple years than I’ve ever seen,first week of September fishing you can see them go by all day long it’s a great sight
Has PM Gump blamed Harper yet?
Humans are killing this planet at an alarming rate. I’m really worried what it will be like in 50 years, if we make it to then💔💔💔😢😢😢
Somewhat like Canadians.
I witnessed many in the Butterfly Garden at CHEO in Ottawa last summer.
Ontario small business moves closer to extinction. Fixed it for you!
I saw that many in my yard last summer?
Every year they give away seeds to attract butterflies. Please look, search even ask for them once you got the seeds plant them they are wild and come back every years. So we will be able to keep our butterflies with us. We need them.
Heartbreaking. Only saw two in my garden this year.
Covid19. They were gathering and going out after 8 PM. Not to mention I think I saw a couple of monarch butterflies trying to go to the movies and dine out at a restaurant. Rumour has it some of them were also trying to buy shoes or underwear at The Bay.
Sad
That is sad.
:/
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