The official census data hasn’t been released yet but news is trickling out of the California monarch overwintering colonies. This year so far, counts show no increase in population size over last year. Last year’s number was below the minimum population size biologists estimate is adequate to sustain the western monarch population (30,000 butterflies).
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I haven’t heard actual numbers yet, just that this year’s population isn’t lower than last year’s—that’s the good news such as it is, but neither is it higher. Right now, of the 3 usual overwintering sites in Santa Cruz (Natural Bridges, Moran Lake, Lighthouse Point), only Lighthouse has monarchs. The largest site is in Pismo Beach with 3,001.
Last year’s census of the western subpop that overwinters in California was dismal: 28,429 monarchs counted at 213 sites, an 86% decline from 2017.
You know what to do for monarchs across North America.
- Limit (eliminate) pesticide use.
- Don’t trash native habitat and do restore degraded habitat.
- Include native species in your garden.
- Vote for people with strong conservation ethics.
- STOP PLANTING TROPICAL MILKWEED AND IF YOU HAVE SOME YANK IT OUT (really, wtf are your priorities?).
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