Overview

• The annual Xerces Society count recorded 9,119 western monarch butterflies this winter, a sharp drop from 233,394 in 2023 and the second-lowest count since tracking began in 1997.
• Key threats to the monarch population include habitat destruction, pesticide contamination, and extreme weather linked to climate change, such as last year's record-breaking heat waves and wildfires.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the monarch as a federally threatened species, with a decision expected by December 2025, and is accepting public comments until March.
• Conservation efforts are focusing on protecting critical habitat, including 4,395 acres across seven California counties, and addressing pesticide testing gaps to mitigate harm to pollinators.
• Despite the alarming decline, experts note the monarch's capacity for recovery, citing past population rebounds, but emphasize the need for immediate action to prevent long-term extinction risks.