Endangered Species Act Listing Explained by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services

A Historic and Challenging Moment for Monarchs – 12/10/24 Announcement

With their iconic orange-and-black wings, monarch butterflies are one of North America’s most recognizable species. Known for their extraordinary migrations spanning thousands of miles from Canada to overwintering sites in California and Mexico, monarchs represent one of nature’s most breathtaking phenomena.

Yet over the past two decades, monarch populations have plummeted. On December 10, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will propose listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This historic decision is the result of mounting evidence of monarch declines due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.

While the monarch is not yet federally protected, this proposed listing signals the urgency of protecting the species. Federal, state, and private partnerships are critical to conserving habitat and reducing threats, ensuring monarchs can continue their remarkable migrations.

🌱 What You Can Do:

Support conservation organizations like Native Monarchs and businesses like Monarch Botanika, which directly fund habitat restoration and monarch protection. Together, we can secure the future of this iconic species.

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