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Butterflies are disappearing. Here’s how Colorado community scientists are working to save them.
- Over the past 20 years, butterfly numbers across North America have dropped by more than 22%, with Colorado's mountain-prairie region experiencing comparable decreases.
- This decline results from climate change causing rapid warming and increased droughts that worsen existing butterfly population problems.
- The Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network started in 2013 with five volunteers and expanded to nearly 100 volunteers across 12 counties by 2024, collecting data on 173 species and over 144,000 butterflies.
- Volunteers contribute by easily submitting butterfly observations via photos on platforms like iNaturalist, which supports researchers in identifying habitat needs and guiding conservation efforts.
- Despite grim results, experts agree butterflies can recover if suitable conditions are provided, emphasizing urgent collective action to prevent further losses and sustain ecosystems.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Butterflies are disappearing. Here’s how Colorado community scientists are working to save them
A butterfly flits past the window at the Castlewood Canyon Visitor Center, where dozens of volunteers have gathered to learn about Colorado’s declining butterfly population and how they can do
Butterflies are disappearing. Here's how Colorado community scientists are working to save them
A butterfly flits past the window at the Castlewood Canyon Visitor Center, where dozens of volunteers have gathered to learn about Colorado’s declining butterfly population and how they can do their part to save it. Shiran Hershcovich, a ...
The Fort Morgan Times
Butterflies are disappearing. Here’s how Colorado community scientists are working to save them.
A butterfly flits past the window at the Castlewood Canyon Visitor Center, where dozens of volunteers have gathered to learn about Colorado’s declining butterfly population and how they can do their part to save it. Shiran Hershcovich, a lepidopterist at the Westminster-based Butterfly Pavilion who’s leading the Saturday morning training, ushers the group outside to watch the mourning cloak butterfly as it settles on a blooming tree. It lightly …
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