The State Of Monarchs

Explore the silver lining of butterflies in limbo.

- Rachel Maidl

Monarchs among the most recognizable and best loved butterflies in North America. But you may have noticed fewer of them traveling through your garden over the last couple of years.

It’s true that monarch numbers have declined recently, and that decline is more extreme in some places than others—but, luckily, it’s not all bad news.

Researchers split monarchs into two groups at the Rockies: eastern and western. They’re not distinct species, but their migration paths and overwintering habitats differ. And one group may be more robust and healthy than the other.

In the East, monarchs appear to be rebounding for the first time in years. Some researchers counted a 144% increase in overwintering monarchs in late 2018, the highest numbers recorded since 2006.