Monarch butterflies to be listed as a threatened species in US

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to add the butterfly to the threatened species list by the end of next year following an extensive public comment period.

Despite its fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said.

Under the act, it's illegal to import, export, possess, transport or kill an endangered species. A threatened listing allows for exceptions to those protections.

We want people to continue to raise caterpillars and monarchs in their homes and use them for education, said Lori Nordstrom, assistant regional director for ecological services for the wildlife service's Midwest region.

Read at www.mercurynews.com