Migrating Monarch Conservation Gardening  

Migrating Monarch Conservation Gardening

  This past winter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a rule to list Monarch butterflies as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The iconic migration along the east side of the Rocky Mountains sees Monarchs flying from as far north as Canada, down to the Oyamel forests in Mexico. Most of these butterflies travel through the Great Plains Region of the United States, with the Front Range being the western boundary of the migratory pathway. Starting in March, the Monarchs begin their journey north again, reproducing and laying eggs as they go. The Monarchs continue north over multiple generations, limited by the availability of milkweed host plants and nectar sources for adult butterflies. This continues throughout the summer until late August, when the migration south begins again.   In December of 2024, the overwintering populations occupied 4.42 acres of forest in Mexico, nearly double what was recorded in December of 2023 (2.22 acres). While this population jump is exciting news, 2024 still marked the second lowest year of overwintering Monarchs in the past decade. This information, along with the proposed conservation status, highlights the importance of conservation efforts for these magnificent butterflies.

Gardeners in Northern Colorado can help support monarch populations by creating habitat in their own gardens. In addition to planting milkweed, having preferred nectar sources can attract not only Monarchs, but all kinds of native pollinators.  Determining which plants are best for your garden can be overwhelming. We’ve composed a list of suggested plant species to support Monarchs, based off the most recent scientific findings.  

Click the link to discover Preferred Nectar Sources for Monarch Butterflies in the Great Plains Region 

Sources:

(Spaeth et al, https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.70085), (MonarchWatch.org), (Xerces Society: https://www.xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/19-019.pdf).