Plight of the Monarch

Every autumn, monarch butterflies make their annual migration from the U.S. to Mexico where they hibernate in trees for the winter. They make the flight back from Mexico to the U.S. every spring. In both seasons, I witness the migration of hundreds of thousands of monarch butterflies fill the sky and land in my backyard for a rest and meal. Their beauty beckons me to take a moment to enjoy. The seasons are changing due to climate change, bringing trouble to these sensitive beings. Monarchs need warmth to survive, and due to the changing climate, monarch butterflies are being drastically reduced with fewer and fewer butterflies actually making it to their hibernation habitat.

Everyone can be a part of the solution in their own backyard. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a webpage dedicated to the monarch butterfly with information on how to help save the monarchs. It gives information on how individuals, communities, and agriculture can help. https://www.fws.gov/savethemonarch/ .