Enriching pollinator habitats for western monarchs

We still have much to learn about monarch butterflies, and so little time if we are to save the unique and fascinating monarch migration from being lost.

We know, for instance, that the North American population of monarch butterflies is divided into an eastern population that overwinters in Mexico and a smaller western population that overwinters along the California coast.

We know that western monarchs seemed to rebound a bit from a dismal 2020–2021, when just 2,000 or so were counted in known California overwintering sites. Nobody knows for certain why that number seemed to jump up to about 250,000 in California during the winter of 2021–2022, or whether it will fall dramatically once again.

And unfortunately, we know that both eastern and western monarch populations have suffered significant declines over the past few decades. Habitat loss is a driving factor in addition to many other stressors. We also know, without a doubt, that any recovery for the species will depend in large part on our ability to protect and enhance pollinator habitats throughout their migratory range, especially through the propagation and planting of milkweed and nectar resources. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed leaves, and that’s the only plant monarch caterpillars will eat.

Without milkweed, monarchs will disappear.

“The recipe for monarch and pollinator conservation may seem simple, but it requires a robust, coordinated effort with strategies unique to each place and audience to effectively engage everyone in protecting our pollinators,” said Wendy Caldwell, executive director of the Monarch Joint Venture.

Watch: The Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund supports work that advances the conservation of the monarch butterfly and other at-risk native insect pollinators.

In 2022, NFWF awarded $1.9 million to grantees focused on monarch butterflies and other pollinators, including more than $720,000 for pollinator projects in California. Grantees there will collect hundreds of pounds of milkweed seed, propagate thousands of milkweed seedlings and restore and improve habitats for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators on public lands and private working lands.