02/02/2026
Goodbye Monarch Butterfly?
There is a new influx of articles and posts coming out right now, as there are every spring, about Monarchs. As usual, these posts and articles are taking the low overwintering count numbers and proclaiming that the butterflies are going extinct, or that they're endangered. What you don't know is that the people who really want this butterfly listed have plans to apply for public funding to run their labs and activities. Job security.
There only one problem. Monarch butterflies are not really endangered nor are they at risk of extinction any time soon.
The thing is, they exist all over the world and don't migrate everywhere they live. Those of you who have them year-round know what I mean. What's really happening is that the migration itself is changing.
As climate changes and gets warmer Monarchs stop migrating and continue their normal life cycle through the winter months. In areas that are warm enough they need milkweed to feed their babies, flowers to feed on as adults and suitable trees to roost in at night. These areas are also where human settlements exist because we like to stay warm in the winter, too. This is why we need to plant more milkweed, winter blooming plants, and trees around our urban areas. We really need an army of people to make this happen.
Pesticide use and habitat loss have made things difficult for all of our pollinators, but we're a far cry from destroying them all yet! We still have time to enhance what we have here at home and protect what is left in the wild. To make things better it takes care, patience, and resolve. It really is up to the people to decide what kind life we want for our future, and without our pollinators and plant life, it will be a bleak future indeed.
But know this; as long as you help grow host plants and avoid pesticide use, you are doing your part. Every single Monarch caterpillar that makes it to an adult is a torch wielder carrying the future of their species forward.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. You are one of millions of people worldwide engaged in conservation through the nurturing of habitat by planting milkweed gardens and raising butterflies. You are our army.
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Goodbye Monarch Butterfly? Is a presentation by Ken Abernathy. To book an appearance call or text 619-987-7848 or email [email protected]
