This winter, fewer than 10,000 Western monarch butterflies were counted, the second-lowest figure since 1997, with alarming projections of a 99% extinction risk by 2080. Habitat destruction, pesticide use, and climate change are principal causes of their decline, worsened by this year's drought and wildfires in California. Volunteers conducted this count, revealing critical losses in various habitats. Urgent conservation efforts, including potential federal protection, are necessary to prevent a further crisis for this beloved species.
The recent count of only 9,119 Western monarch butterflies reveals a staggering decline of over 95% since the 1980s, highlighting dire conservation needs.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposal to list the butterfly as federally endangered is crucial, given the 99% extinction risk projected by 2080 without action.
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