Act Now for Monarch Butterflies

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting comments to inform whether or not the monarch butterfly should receive federal protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. This is a pivotal moment for the survival of monarch butterflies. Your voice can make a difference.

Please submit a comment in favor of listing the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, to help secure federal protection for declining populations of monarch butterflies and their habitats.

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I support your proposal to list the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The North American migratory monarch's eastern and western populations have suffered drastic declines in recent decades due to habitat loss and fragmentation, excessive pesticide use, and climate change. The magnitude of these threats is outstripping the many efforts to restore monarch habitat by planting milkweed and nectar plants.  Listing the monarch butterfly species as threatened would improve the outlook for this one-of-a-kind insect known and loved across the United States. It will provide resources, coordination, and protections to reduce the threats to the species while scaling up habitat restoration to the level needed to recover the monarch butterfly.

Migratory western monarch butterflies continue to decline steadily. This population reached its lowest point when less than 2,000 monarchs were spotted in 2020, far fewer than the millions recorded in the eighties. The eastern monarch butterfly population is in jeopardy, too, for example, suffering an 84% population decline in 2014. Your Species Status Assessment states that the probability of extinction for the eastern monarch population ranges from 48%-69% within the next 60 years and makes a more dire prediction for the western monarch, with a 98-99% probability of extinction within 60 years. At this point, protecting the monarch under the Endangered Species Act is our best bet to save this fantastic and globally beloved butterfly.

For future generations to appreciate the monarch butterfly’s unique migratory journey and striking orange wings, we must take action now to protect this magnificent species and its disappearing habitat. Please list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act so monarchs can have the resources and conservation rules they need to survive and recover. I encourage you to create tailored regulations for recovery that draw upon the expertise and experience of stakeholders including scientists, other federal agencies, state wildlife agencies, Tribal governments, conservation organizations, private landowners, and the public.

Sincerely,
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Endangered Species

Pollinators

Monarchs