Monarch Butterflies Proposed for Threatened Species Listing in U.S.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cites steep population declines and launches a public comment period on the proposal.

Monarch butterfly populations in North America have declined drastically, with western populations down over 95% and eastern populations down 80% since the 1980s.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the monarch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act to provide critical protections and conservation efforts.
The proposal includes designating 4,395 acres of coastal California as critical habitat for the western monarch population's migration and overwintering needs.
Key threats to monarchs include habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change, which have disrupted their breeding, migration, and food sources like milkweed.
The public has until March 12, 2025, to submit comments on the proposal, with the final decision expected by December 2025.