Last month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designated the migratory monarch as endangered. The plight of the monarch has been well-known for some time, but this makes it official.
According to the press release, “Concern remains as to whether enough butterflies survive to maintain the populations and prevent extinction.”
How can we help the monarchs? Avoid insecticides and herbicides, and plant native milkweeds (the only host plant of the monarchs). Read the press release, and don’t miss this PBS video to learn more about this remarkable butterfly.