Overview
- Google published the Doodle on November 4 to honor the monarch’s seasonal journey, noting the insects travel in vast “golden clouds” and navigate using the sun and high-altitude air currents.
- The Doodle directs users to articles explaining monarch biology, migration routes and conservation efforts.
- Each season millions travel thousands of kilometers from Canada and the United States to oyamel forests in central Mexico, with major arrivals typically in early November.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the monarch as endangered in 2022 after decade-long declines of 23% to 72% linked to habitat loss, pesticides, shrinking milkweed and climate change.
- Mexico reports the 2024–2025 overwintering colonies doubled in area to 1.79 hectares from 0.90, a welcome uptick that does not resolve long-term threats.