Saving the Monarchs

The annual migration of monarch butterflies is one of North America’s most iconic wildlife spectacles, that includes a multi-generational journey and yet-to-be-understood navigation skills. But these pollinators face an alarming decline—90% over the last 30 years. While deforestation in Mexico once topped the list of threats, breeding habitat loss and the use of herbicides in the prairies of the U.S. and Canada due to industrial agriculture and urban sprawl is now equally urgent. Climate change adds further stress through severe weather events.

In 2023, the wintering monarch population dropped by 22%, increasing their risk. In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing monarchs as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This step could provide critical protections for the species but may also impact educational activities like tagging events.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of Mexico’s monarch sanctuaries in 2025, communities across North America—from citizen scientists in Ontario to Indigenous groups in Michoacán—are fighting to save these butterflies. Monarchs symbolise hope, resilience, and our connection to nature. Their survival depends on a collective effort to restore habitats, combat climate change, and rethink how we interact with the natural world. Together, we can create a future where monarchs thrive.