This year, California's monarch butterfly population experienced a significant decline, with only 9,119 butterflies recorded during the overwintering count by the Xerces Society. This is marked as the second-lowest count since 1997, down from previous years of over 200,000. Hot summer and fall temperatures, combined with severe drought conditions across the West, are credited with affecting the butterflies' migratory patterns. Notably, Santa Cruz County had the highest concentrations of overwintering monarchs, with the top locations recorded, while a few areas, like UC Gill Tract Community Farm, saw slight increases in butterfly numbers.
"The specific drop we saw this year largely attributed to the really hot temperatures and the drought that we saw across the West in July, somewhat into August and again in September and October, when that migratory generation should be making its way to the overwintering sites."
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