Monarch butterflies dangerously close to the ‘endangered species list’

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The future of the Monarch butterfly is up in the air as their population has seen a decline in recent years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Tuesday, the organization proposed the addition of the Monarch to their "endangered species list."

A few locations around the Central Coast are popular spots for these butterflies, including the local "Butterfly Town," a.k.a. Pacific Grove.

It's noticeable to people who live in the Pacific Grove area that the Monarch population has been dwindling, but, is it possible for the butterflies to make a comeback?

“Ever scene we started monitoring the butterflies, what we have noticed is a steep decline in the number; an over 95% drop,” said Community Science Coordinator at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Natalie Johnston.

Wednesday afternoon a swarm of Monarchs were fluttering throughout the sanctuary in Pacific Grove, but Johnston says there's a number of reasons for their population drop.

“One of [the reasons] is habitat loss and in their northern ground where they migrate too," said Johnston. "Another is pesticides, and then there is climate change, witch is impacting all creators.”

Up for protection consideration multiple times, Johnston says that there was a proposal in 2014 to consider the Monarch butterfly under the endangered species act.

Then, in 2020, Johnston says that there were "zero Monarchs in Pacific Grove."

"So when there was a rebound in 2021, that brought an increased attention and so they had that proposal revisited and list them as threatened under the endangered species act," she said. "This will increase federal protections.”

Monarchs visit the area from mid-October through the end of February.

“Monarch butterflies are naturally resilient," said Johnston. "If we protect them, they and the others [from the] natural world will respond.”