MADISON, Wis. — On Tuesday, U.S. wildlife authorities revealed plans to enhance federal protections for monarch butterflies, responding to ongoing concerns from environmentalists about the declining populations of this cherished pollinator, especially in light of climate change. By the end of next year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to classify the monarch as a threatened species after allowing ample time for public input.
“The iconic monarch butterfly holds a special place in the hearts of many across North America, enchanting both children and adults with its remarkable life cycle,” stated Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in a news release. “While the butterfly is vulnerable, it shows an impressive resilience, much like various aspects of nature when given a chance.”
The Endangered Species Act provides significant protections to species designated as endangered or threatened. This law makes it illegal to import, export, possess, or harm such species. Being listed as threatened permits certain exceptions.
For monarchs, the proposed status would generally forbid anyone from killing or transporting them. However, individuals and farmers may still remove milkweed — the primary food source for monarch caterpillars — from their properties. They will not be allowed to modify their land in a way that makes it permanently inhospitable to the species. Incidental deaths from vehicle accidents would be permitted, and individuals could transport fewer than 250 monarchs for educational purposes or personal use.
Lori Nordstrom, assistant regional director for ecological services in the Midwest, emphasized that they encourage people to continue raising caterpillars and monarchs for educational use.
Additionally, the proposal identifies 4,395 acres (1,779 hectares) across seven coastal counties in California as critical habitat for monarchs residing west of the Rocky Mountains during winter migration. Federal agencies will be prohibited from destroying or altering this habitat. While the designation does not completely impede development, landowners seeking federal permits will need to collaborate with the wildlife service to minimize any environmental damage.
The journey toward this formal proposal has been lengthy. In 2014, the Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation groups urged the wildlife service to label the monarch as threatened. The agency began reviewing the butterfly’s status that same year, finding, after six years, that a listing was justified, but other species were prioritized first. A federal lawsuit from the Center ultimately resulted in a settlement reached in 2022, which mandated that a decision regarding the monarch’s status be made by September 2024, a deadline that was later extended to December.
Tierra Curry, a senior scientist with the Center, remarked, “The fact that such a widespread and beloved butterfly like the monarch is emblematic of the extinction crisis acts as a warning signal, urging us to take better care of our shared environment.”
Monarch butterflies, recognized for their striking orange and black wings, are prevalent throughout North America and symbolize warm summer days. However, conservationists have expressed their alarm over the continuous decline in their numbers over the last decade. Monarchs residing in the eastern U.S. migrate to Mexico during winters, while those west of the Rockies typically journey to the California coast, where their vibrant congregations attract nature enthusiasts and tourists alike.
Recent data from World Wildlife Fund Mexico indicated that the species occupied merely 2.2 acres (.9 hectares) of their traditional wintering grounds in the 2023-24 season, which represents a 59% reduction compared to 5.5 acres (2.2 hectares) the prior year. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation reported an alarming 81% decline in monarch counts across key sites over the past 25 years, from 1,235,490 monarchs at 101 sites to just 233,394 across 257 sites last year during the peak migration season in November.
Environmental organizations attribute the decline in monarch populations to rising temperatures due to climate change, expansive agriculture, and the use of herbicides that have decimated milkweed growth—critical for monarch caterpillar survival. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) warns that as climate conditions change, milkweed may naturally shift toward polar regions in search of more favorable growing conditions. This alteration could force monarchs to undertake longer migrations, thereby diminishing their breeding time.
Temperature fluctuations from climate change may also disrupt the monarchs’ migration. Warmer climates could delay or prevent their return to northern habitats. During winter, monarchs require cool forests that slow their metabolism without risking freezing, making the CMS’s warnings increasingly crucial as temperature shifts might threaten their survival.
Kristen Lundh, a biologist with the wildlife service, noted the agency’s decision to propose a threatened status instead of endangered is based on assessments showing that monarchs are not on the brink of extinction across a significant portion of their habitat. Nevertheless, she cautioned that western monarchs face a 95% chance of extinction by 2080, while approximately 90% of monarchs in the U.S. population, located east of the Rockies, have a 57% to 74% extinction probability within the same timeframe.
The recent announcement initiates a 90-day period for public comments, after which the wildlife agency will consider whether to adjust the proposal, proceed with the listing, or abandon the initiative. Should they move forward, the agency has until December 2025 to finalize the listing.
This proposal raises significant questions for advocates who have been promoting voluntary conservation efforts, hoping to avoid a federal listing and its accompanying restrictions. Matt Mulica, leading the Farmers for Monarchs initiative—which includes a collaboration of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural interests—highlighted the proactive steps farmers have taken to sustain monarch habitats and acknowledged that it is premature to determine the implications of a threatened listing on agriculture.
