Once ubiquitous, the monarch butterfly is now considered endangered. And after years of staggering declines in their numbers, the United States federal government is finally acting.
Tourists used to flock to places like Natural Bridges State Beach in California to witness monarchs huddling together on trees in the tens of thousands. Monarch butterflies congregate in great groupings during the winter months to stay warm.
The day may come when visitors will no longer be able to see any monarch butterflies along the Natural Bridges Monarch Trail or any other known monarch sanctuary in the US or Mexico. Media reports say that this year there are fewer than 200 monarch butterflies sheltering at this and other famous sanctuaries.
To address the crisis, the US Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposal on December 12 to list the monarch butterfly as “threatened” under the 50-year-old Endangered Species Act. The public has until March 12 to comment on the proposal.
“Today, the eastern migratory population is estimated to have declined by approximately 80%,” FWS said in its announcement. “The western migratory population has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, putting the western populations at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080.”
FWS says there is no one cause for the staggering decline in monarch butterfly populations. Blame has been put on the ongoing human population increase and development destroying key wintering and breeding habitat. FWS also blames insecticides used in agriculture and climate change.
The effect of road traffic cannot be discounted, either. Monarchs often fly low during migration and feeding, and thousands can be killed by fast-moving vehicles when crossing roadways. Public Parks has seen this in Texas, with monarch butterflies becoming commonly overlooked roadkill.
The public no longer has the luxury of ignoring the problem, FWS says.
The monarch butterfly is arguably the most iconic butterfly species on the planet. Their extinction would not go unnoticed, should it come to pass.
“The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating lifecycle,” said USFWS Director Martha Williams. “This proposed listing invites and builds on unprecedented public participation in shaping monarch conservation efforts.
Among other proposals, FWS is calling for the creation of more protected monarch wintering habitats along coastal California, sanctuaries like Natural Bridges State Beach.
Located near Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges State Beach is close to other state parks and preserves that could be incorporated into FWS’s monarch recovery plan.
Another sanctuary is located further south in the community of Pacific Grove. Both of these monarch butterfly sanctuaries are relatively small.
FWS has plans for converting a much larger area into protected habitat for the butterflies.
“In total, the Service is proposing 4,395 acres of critical habitat for the western migratory monarch population across Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura counties in California,” FWS said. “A critical habitat designation imposes no requirements on state or private land unless the action involves federal funding, permits or approvals.”
Fish and Wildlife says it will also be partnering with Native American tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits alongside state authorities across the country to find ways to save North America’s most recognized butterfly species from extinction.
FWS’s announcement of its listing proposal was accompanied by statements of support from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the National Alliance of Forest Owners, the Western Landowners Alliance, the National Wildlife Federation, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and other organizations.
“Working together, we can help make this extraordinary species a legacy for our children and generations to come,” FWS Director Williams said.
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