Overview

• The Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing monarch butterflies as a 'threatened' species under the Endangered Species Act due to significant population declines.
• Monarch populations in North America have dropped by 80-90%, driven by habitat loss, insecticide use, climate change, and deforestation in Mexico.
• Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the proposal, calling it federal overreach that could harm rural industries, including farming, energy, and infrastructure development.
• Conservation advocates argue the regulations will be flexible and tailored, with exemptions for many activities and funding for landowners to support monarch habitats.
• A public comment period on the proposal is open until March 12, 2025, allowing stakeholders to provide input on the plan's potential economic and environmental impacts.