Eastern Monarch Population Increased

The presence of monarch butterflies in Mexico’s forests this past winter was 35% greater than the previous year, according to the most recent survey led by WWF Mexico. This increase marks a sign of recovery—albeit a fragile one—and gives some reason for hope against a backdrop of several decades of decline for the iconic species. According to the survey, Forest Area Occupied by the Colonies of Monarch Butterflies in Mexico During the 2021-2022 Overwintering Season, the species’ presence in and around Mexico’s famed Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve grew from 5.19 acres in December 2020 to 7.02 acres in December 2021. Because it is impossible to count each butterfly, the survey measures the area of forest the monarchs occupy each winter in the hibernation colonies, inside and outside the Reserve, providing an indicator of their population status.

Read more from the WWF  and add your observations to eButterfly to help track their populations this summer!