Creating the Perfect Habitat: A Must Before Planting Your Garden

In 2014, a petition pushed for monarch butterflies to be listed as a threatened species, and now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward with plans to add them to the Endangered Species Act. This listing would grant federal protections to monarchs, safeguarding their habitats and regulating activities that could harm them—like killing or transporting the butterflies.

A “threatened” status means that while monarchs aren’t considered endangered yet, they’re at serious risk of becoming so without intervention. These protections would cover thousands of acres of habitat, giving monarchs a fighting chance to recover.

A Drastic Decline in Monarch Populations

The numbers speak for themselves. Over the past few decades, monarch butterfly populations have dropped alarmingly:

• In the 1980s, more than 4.5 million monarch butterflies overwintered in California.

• In the past three years, the annual count consistently recorded over 200,000 monarchs.

But in the most recent count (2024-2025), only 9,119 monarch butterflies were found—a devastating decline.

Several factors are driving this loss, including:

• Climate change altering weather patterns and affecting the availability of food sources.

• Habitat loss due to urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation.

• Pesticide use that kills milkweed—monarch caterpillars' only food source—and contaminates nectar plants.

  
  

How You Can Help: The Monarch Habitat Evaluator

While the statistics are concerning, there’s hope—and you can be part of the solution. One of the most effective ways to support monarchs is by creating and maintaining high-quality habitats.

The Monarch Habitat Evaluator is a fantastic tool designed by the Monarch Joint Venture to help you assess and improve monarch habitats in your community. Whether you have a garden, work with a local park, or want to enhance roadside habitats, this tool guides you through:

• Identifying native milkweed and nectar plants.

• Evaluating habitat size and plant diversity.

• Understanding potential risks, like pesticide exposure.

• Prioritizing areas for restoration.

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You don’t need to be a scientist to make a difference—this user-friendly tool empowers anyone to create monarch-friendly spaces.

For my Cali friends:)

Join the Fight to Save Monarchs

For over 25 years, the Xerces Society has led the Western Monarch Count, a community science effort tracking monarch populations along the Pacific coast and inland areas. Volunteers play a huge role in gathering data, which directly informs conservation strategies.

By combining habitat restoration with scientific monitoring, we can tackle the monarch crisis from multiple angles. Here’s how you can help:

1. Plant native milkweed and nectar plants in your garden.

2. Use the Monarch Habitat Evaluator to assess and improve local habitats.

3. Volunteer with the Western Monarch Count or other community science projects.

4. Advocate for policies that protect monarchs and their ecosystems.

5. Spread awareness—talk to your friends, family, and community about why monarchs matter.