Over the past 20 years, the North American monarch population has plunged from 1 billion to fewer than 60 million, due to many factors, including loss of critical habitat. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) awarded the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF) and their partners two grants to support the recovery of monarch butterflies through 2019, but our work isn’t finished! In the United States, they aren’t listed as endangered, yet, and there are ways we can work to keep those beautiful wings from entering that list:
- Plant native milkweed, that hasn’t been treated with some sort of pesticide
- Missouri Wildflowers Nursery
- Check out your local garden supply store
- Create a butterfly garden that includes both milkweed and nectar plants
- Create a monarch way-station, which are habitats that allow monarch butterflies to lay their eggs.
- Make a donation to support habitat protection and restoration needs
- Spread the word!
July 21, 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the monarch butterfly endangered. This incredible migrating butterfly, known for its spectacular annual journey of up to nearly 2,500 miles across the Americas, is at risk for extinction due to habitat destruction and climate change.
Help us save the monarch butterfly, donate today! Funds raised go to support habitat protection and restoration needs including monarch monitoring, research, milkweed seed distribution and more.
