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Monarch Butterflies Surge 64% in Mexico
Eastern monarchs’ winter habitat grew 64% to 2.93 hectares in Mexico due to reduced logging and better weather, but population remains below sustainable levels, experts say.
- Monarch butterfly habitat in central Mexico increased 64% compared to last year, yet the population remains at a record-low level.
- Monarchs migrate annually between Canada and Mexico, spending winters in central Mexico, while another population travels between California and the western U.S., though numbers remain well below 1980s levels.
- Winter habitat coverage reached 7.24 acres, an improvement from 4.42 acres last year, while the Xerces Society's Western Monarch Count recorded 12,260 monarchs in California.
- Scientists attribute the long-term decline to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use, warning that extreme weather during migration could potentially lead to extinction.
- Dr. Ray Moranz from the Xerces Society urged swift action, stating, "We need everyone across the U.S., Mexico and southern Canada to create that habitat in yards, communities and rural lands and quickly, before it is too late.
61 Articles
61 Articles
Eastern monarch butterfly populations increase in 2025, but challenges remain
Monarch butterfly populations in North America have been in dramatic decline for several decades. But in a glimmer of hope for the iconic orange-and-black species, the 2025 population estimate was roughly 64% higher compared to the previous year. Scientists split migratory monarchs (Danaus plexippus) into two populations — western and eastern — depending on which side of the Rocky Mountains they fall on. Both are considered endangered on the IUC…
New Reports Bring Hope for Eastern Migratory Monarch Butterflies
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (18 March 2026) - WWF-Mexico and its partners today released two new reports highlighting improvements to the population and winter habitat of the eastern migratory monarch butterfly. Together, they mark a hopeful year for the species, with one estim
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