Conservation

If I want to raise some monarchs in my classroom as an activity for my students, what do I do if one dies?

 While raising a few monarchs for educational purpose is not known to be harmful to wild populations, we discourage captive monarch rearing due to the risk of disease and reduced migration success. Instead we encourage engaging students in monarch habitat creation or restoration.

The death of monarchs and all organisms is a natural part of life and can be a great learning opportunity for students to understand all aspects of the life cycle. It can be an opportunity to learn about different threats monarchs face, like disease or parasitism. We encourage creating a schoolyard garden for butterflies or otherwise engage students in habitat creation or restoration. These are the primary conservation actions that carry the highest positive impact for monarchs. You can find more resources for educators here.

Is the monarch migration tracked by placing transmitters on the migrating adults?

The tracking of monarch movement across the country has been done by placing ‘tags’ or stickers marked with a unique 6-character identification code and the name and contact information of the organization the tag belongs to. When a monarch is captured or seen passing through an area the ID code and other information are recorded and submitted to the organization who conducted the tagging. Find out more about tagging programs here.

In September 2023, Cape May Point Science Center and Cellular Tracking Technologies deployed the first ever solar-powered coded digital radio tags on monarchs this week in Cape May Point, NJ. These tags weigh 0.06g and have no battery, so as long as they have sun on them, they will transmit their unique ID once per second. Since they operate on the same frequency as Bluetooth, they can be detected by any smart device running the Project Monarch Science app (with a ~100-200m range from cellphone to tag). The free Project Monarch Science app means YOU can download data and YOU can be a part of the research, logging your sightings and contributing to community science!

The app is available in both iOS and Android app stores:

Project Monarch Science- iOS
Project Monarch Science- Android

Are the tags used for tracking butterfly movement harmful to the butterflies?

If carefully placed on the wings of the butterfly and in the correct location, the tags used to track monarchs are not harmful. According to protocol, tags should be placed over the discal cell on the hindwing (visit monarchwatch.org for images and details) to prevent interference with flight.

Is there a single cause to the decline of the monarch populations?

There is no one single reason for the decline in the monarch populations. There are multiple threats that all contribute to the decline. Habitat loss, climate change, disease, pesticides, predation, and other human activities all take part in the loss of monarchs. You can learn more about these issues on our Threats page.

What can I do to help monarchs this summer?

Everyone can get involved in monarch conservation! You can help in a few important ways this summer.

1. Create Habitat: plant native milkweed and flowers for monarchs. Monarchs can only eat milkweed as caterpillars, and adult monarchs drink nectar from a variety of flowers! Visit www.plantmilkweed.org for tips and resources to create monarch habitat. 
2. Spread the Word: we need all hands on deck to bring back the monarch population. Get creative, and spread the word in all kinds of ways! Here are some ideas; talk to your neighbors about monarchs and native habitat, put up a sign explaining your habitat, or do a presentation in your community. You can find resources to help you educate others here. 
3. Study monarchs: You can contribute to active monarch research by participating in community science. Whether it's a one-time report, monitoring your garden every week, or going to a high-priority site to monitor habitat, you can plug in however is best for you. Find out about the many monarch community science programs here, and join us for the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz this summer July 27 - August 4!
4. Join Miles for Monarchs: If you're planning to get outdoors and meet some fitness goals this summer, you can help monarchs on their migration as you go. MJV and Pheasants Forever are partnering with athletes across North America to run, walk, bike, swim, or paddle the monarch migration while raising funds for monarch conservation at the same time! Learn more and sign up here!

Are monarchs endangered?

No, the monarch is not listed as endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act. In December 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the monarch butterfly warranted but precluded. This decision means that the monarch meets the listing criteria under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but there are only enough resources to focus on higher-priority listing actions. Currently, the monarch butterfly is a candidate species for listing under the ESA. Its status is reviewed each year until it is no longer a candidate.

On July 21, 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus) has entered the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Endangered. This listing was the first time the monarch butterfly was officially been declared at risk of extinction. The IUCN Red List is one of many tools utilized in decision-making processes for public, private, and non-governmental organizations, but does not legally protect the monarch under the Endangered Species Act. 

Learn more about the Status of the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. 

Should I ship monarchs south (or take them with me on vacation to release) in order to help them on their migration?

We do not recommend moving monarchs (USDA permits are required to ship across state lines). There are many naturally occurring factors that lead to late-season monarchs that will not survive the winter. This is part of the natural cycle of life for thousands of organisms across earth's ecosystems. Because monarchs rely on a combination of environmental cues to sustain their migration, we discourage interference with natural conditions. Motivation is high to help protect monarchs and their migration. We support everyone's enthusiasm for helping monarchs! We highly recommend planting monarch habitat and participating in community science as two primary ways to help protect this valuable species. Please check out our educational handouts for more information on many dimensions of monarch and pollinator conservation.

Should I bring in the monarch caterpillars I find to protect and raise them?

It is great that you are observing monarch caterpillars. We discourage the practice of bringing monarchs indoors to raise them. A goal of the monarch conservation movement is a self-sustaining monarch population that can survive from generation to generation without human intervention. The best thing you can do to support monarchs is to create habitat for them!

Please read our handout Rearing Monarchs: Why or Why Not? for more information about the risks of rearing captive monarchs.

What is the Endangered Species Act and how do species get listed?

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a conservation law that is jointly administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The purpose of the law is to "protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend" (ESA Overview). Species may be listed as 'endangered' or 'threatened'. The Service uses an Species Status Assessment framework to gather information needed to help inform the decision.

A Species Status Assessment (SSA) is used to better understand the species and inform the ESA decision. This scientific assessment is both repeatable and rigorous and seeks to evaluate the ability of a species to maintain self-sustaining populations over time. Upon its completion, the SSA provides not only an ESA listing decision, but also includes consultations, grant allocations, permitting, habitat conservation plans and recovery planning. 

To read the ESA in its entirety, review a fact sheet, or find more information on the Species Status Assessment, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website. You can read the SSA for monarchs here. 

How can I support monarch conservation?

With your help, we can accomplish so much more in our efforts to conserve monarchs and their phenomenal migration. There is a wide array of opportunities for community scientists to make substantial contributions to monarch conservation, from planting habitat to educating others, to contributing to community science, to making a donation. Learn more about how you can get involved here!

You can also support monarch conservation by purchasing MJV items on the MJV Store. All proceeds go to supporting our monarch conservation work.

What can I do to support monarchs and pollinators with a few acres of land?

Create habitat with a mix of native wildflowers (including milkweeds) and grasses. You can plant native plants in a more typical garden setting or plant a prairie garden or natural area. Think about areas on your yard that could be maintained with native prairie plants - they don't always have to be gardens! Native prairie plants, once established, require much less maintenance than a typical mowed lawn, and provide tremendous benefits to local pollinators. Find locally sourced native plant materials, and collaborate with groups like Pheasants Forever, Wild ones, or Master Naturalists/Master Gardeners to help plant and maintain the habitat! For more resources visit our downloads and links page.

How can I get involved in monarch conservation in Canada?

Creating habitat that includes native milkweeds and nectar plants is a common goal between Canada and the United States. In addition, many monarch community science programs are relevant across North America.  Here is a Management Plan for Monarchs in Canada (Environment Canada).

Some organizations in Canada that have been working on monarch conservation issues in Canada include (but are not limited to):

• Commission for Environmental Cooperation
• David Suzuki Foundation
• World Wildlife Fund
• Pollinator Partnership - Canada

Where can I get information on creating interpretive signs for my monarch habitat?

Whether it's a habitat in your yard, a community garden, or a roadside or utility right-of-way, posting signs helps draw attention to the value of that habitat for monarchs and other pollinators, or any other suite of species that may use that habitat. We’ve compiled some existing signs from MJV partners that might be useful for your site, available on our website: http://monarchjointventure.org/resources/signs-and-displays/
 

Should I purchase monarchs for release?

We strongly discourage the practice of buying monarchs commercially to raise/release into your garden or other habitat. The Monarch Joint Venture joins many other conservation organizations and entities in emphasizing that creating, restoring, enhancing and maintaining habitat for monarchs and other pollinators is the best conservation strategy. Habitat is beneficial to more than just monarchs, and encourages a healthy ecosystem with diverse pollinators, which are essential to our economy. While monarchs may not always find or utilize every milkweed patch, increasing habitat everywhere helps to ensure connectivity of habitats and increases the likelihood that monarchs will find suitable breeding grounds. Aside from concerns about the purchase and release of commercially raised monarchs, one of the major factors influencing population declines in the first place is large-scale loss of habitat. We must work to restore habitat on the landscape so that the wild population can rebound. 

Is the monarch migration at risk of extinction?

A recent publication indicates substantial probability for “quasi-extinction” of the Eastern monarch butterfly migratory population within 20 years if ambitious habitat restoration and conservation goals are not achieved. Quasi-extinction means that the population reaches levels that are so low that it would be unlikely to recover. To minimize this risk, national population targets have been set to restore the Eastern monarch overwintering population size to 6 hectares of space occupied in Mexico through the addition of habitat across North America, including about 1.5 billion additional milkweed stems. Achieving this population size may help the population rebound more readily after stochastic weather events, such as the major winter storm that occurred in the late winter/early spring 2016 at the overwintering sites in Mexico, which likely caused significant mortality of the butterflies remaining there. Read more here.

How can I fund my monarch project?

Large and small scale monarch conservation projects can benefit from financial support, either to enhance an existing site with native, locally sourced milkweeds or nectar sources, or to establish a new site from scratch. If you are looking to install or enhance habitat for monarchs and other pollinators but don't have the funds available to complete the project yourself, here are a few tips to consider when looking for funding. 

• For small-scale garden habitats, the primary funding opportunities are local to your state or community. Some national garden grant opportunities may be available, but these opportunities are not consistently available and  may vary from one year to the next. Check out our list of garden grants from across the country. Search online for "garden grant" opportunities and find one that may apply to your area or planting objectives. Locally, you may also find support from a business or other local entity that may have resources to support community development or engagement, or from local clubs such as garden clubs or rotary, for example.
• It is important to connect with other stakeholders in your community that have similar conservation interests. These groups may have funding available for local projects, have information and expertise to share as your project progresses, and may be able to help you leverage opportunities for low-cost or free materials to use for your project. Connect with naturalist groups like Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Pheasants Forever, or Wild Ones chapters (among others!) who have similar interests. These groups could provide local seeds they have collected, or may have plant materials to transplant from existing gardens. 
• Community scale projects or public projects may be able to work with local native plant producers to provide seeds or plant at low or no-cost. Talk with local nurseries to see if there are opportunities to work closely with them on these types of projects. 
• For private landowners with a bit more acreage, conservation resources and funding opportunities are listed by state on this website: http://www.privatelandownernetwork.org/. These resources should be explored thoroughly for funding or cost share opportunities for your state or region.
• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is currently operating a Monarch Butterlfy Conservation Fund for large projects, and typically have an annual request for proposals.
• Also keep in mind that restoring habitat for monarchs has many co-benefits. Leverage other funding opportunities that prioritize migratory bird habitat, water quality, or another conservation initiative. If you recognize and make connections to multiple species and environmental benefits, you will broaden your opportunities to support a habitat restoration project, even if your primary goal is monarch conservation. Search to find conservation minded funding opportunities through trusts, foundations, or other entities.

Is foraging habitat for the adults more important than milkweed during the fall migration?

Milkweed is important throughout the growing season, since monarch larvae continue to develop on the host plants as the migration begins. However, nectar sources, or foraging habitat for adults during the fall (southbound) migration are extremely important. Adult monarchs that eclose starting around mid-August are in a state of delayed maturation called reproductive diapause. They focus on nectaring to fuel their migration rather than breeding and laying eggs on milkweed. For this reason, nectar sources are more important for adult monarchs during the fall migration. All monarch habitats should include a mix of local, native milkweed and nectar plants appropriate to your region. A variety of nectar plants should be planted so that your garden is blooming all season long. For information on creating habitat for monarchs visit www.plantmilkweed.org.

Can milkweed plants growing in backyards across the U.S. make a difference?

Yes! Everyone’s habitat makes a difference, especially when there are many together that start to build a connected network of habitats. Planting milkweed in your garden or yard creates much needed habitat for monarchs in your area, and allows them to live and reproduce to create the next generation of monarchs. It also raises awareness in your community and encourages others to plant milkweed themselves, which is how we can spread the word and get even more habitat created. Visit www.plantmilkweed.org to get started with your yard or garden milkweed plants

What are the recent tri-national efforts and strategies related to monarch conservation?

In the U.S. a High Level Working group for monarchs released a national strategy for protecting monarchs and other pollinators. This group will work collaboratively with working groups in Canada and Mexico to develop a trinational action plan for monarch conservation.

Is there any value of habitat that has nectar sources but no milkweed sources for monarchs? Or, is the push really to focus on milkweed in the habitat?

Monarchs need milkweed throughout the spring and summer to successful reproduce. However, in addition to milkweed plants, nectar sources are extremely important for adult monarchs throughout the breeing and migratory seasons. Nectar sources are of highest priority during the fall migration, when adults are storing energy to survive the winter at their overwintering locations. All habitat restoration efforts should plan for both milkweeds and nectar sources.