SAN FRANCISCO
As California Biodiversity Day approaches, California State Parks Foundation is asking the public to observe and report sightings of western monarch butterflies. The data from these observations will help scientists understand where these butterflies are at different times of the year and will also help inform the upcoming 30th annual Western Monarch Count.
Millions of western monarchs used to return to coastal California every year, but the population has plummeted in recent decades. Numerous factors have contributed to this decline, including climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, and disease. The annual Western Monarch Count’s most recent survey found a peak population of 12,260 monarchs, the third-lowest overwintering population ever recorded since tracking began in 1997. A Species Status Assessment predicts a greater than 95% chance of extinction for western monarchs by 2080.
As California Biodiversity Day is celebrated from Sept. 5 through Sept. 13, those who want to participate in the process of observing and reporting monarch butterfly sightings can do so with the following steps:
- Download the free iNaturalist app and create an account.
- Snap a photo of a monarch butterfly or caterpillar.
- Upload an observation to iNaturalist.
California State Parks Foundation is advocating for western monarch butterflies to be listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Californians interested in supporting this effort can sign a petition at calparks.org/monarchthreat.
~ California State Parks press release
