$500 offered for information that leads to arrest in PG’s Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary destroyed trees

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION)

Organizers and volunteers of Pacific Grove's Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary are in disbelief over the destruction of their expanded habitat aimed at keeping them from going extinct.

Nearly a dozen eucalyptus tress were sawed off with a power-tool over the weekend.

"There is some possibility that people who are opposed to the planting of none native trees in this area are likely to be responsible," said Dominick Sinicropi.

Over the past year, they had been planting eucalyptus trees, which have been naturalized in California to help the Monarch Butterflies. Researchers say they have observed how the butterflies prefer the eucalyptus tree over others to settle on over the winter. The leaves are small enough for the butterflies to wrap their legs around.

"There's an idea that they've invasive or make the soil toxic, but that's shown to be a myth. They are proven to be a perfect habitat for the monarchs," said Gabriela Chavez.

Robert Pacelli, who has dedicated the past 30 years of his life to saving the Monarch Butterfly, is hoping a $500 reward will find the person or people responsible for the vandalism of the trees.

According to Pacelli, "The Western Monarch Butterfly population has declined 97% since the 1980s, so we know we can't stop now."

"I hope you understand that we're not going to stop and we may lose the Monarchs. But it's not going to be for a lack of trying and when you cut the trees you weren't only hurting the monarchs, which you were, you're hurting a lot of people including our community."

The Monarch butterflies are tracked every winter and through the years the population count has plunged. Volunteers are asking for more hands and donations.

A GoFundMe account has been setup to help: https://gf.me/u/yjyqya

Anyone with information about the vandalism at the Butterfly Sanctuary is asked to contact Pacific Grove Police.