The official state butterfly since 2000, monarch butterflies are facing a major ecological threat, according to experts.

Local, Western populations of monarchs have declined by around 30% compared to last year, according to a study by the Xerces Society. The Eastern populations have declined this past winter by around 59% compared to 2023, according to a different Xerces Society study. 

Whether it is attending the Monarch Festival in Minneapolis on Sept. 7 or learning about the butterfly in second grade, it is hard not to notice their decreased numbers over the years. 

University of Minnesota Entomologist professor Vera Krischik said various factors contribute to monarch butterflies’ decline, such as habitat destruction, pesticide use, insecticides and road salt. Krischik said even when people retrofit landscapes with native plants, habitat fragmentation still occurs and ultimately harms the species. 

“For many, many reasons, the environment is not compatible with an insect’s life history,” Krischik said. 

With humans occupying so much of the landscape with highways and skyscrapers, Krishik said that even acres of land planted with native crops are still not enough for migrating butterflies. 

“You basically have a food desert and no habitat,” Krischik said. “So it’s inevitable that there’s going to be decline.”

Education Manager Katie-Lyn Puffer at Monarch Joint Venture said they work with communities, state agencies, and local and national organizations to raise awareness and advocate for monarchs. They work to plant more butterfly-friendly plants in the state and educate those who want to get involved. 

“We know what they need, but they can’t tell us something’s wrong and they can’t advocate for themselves,” Puffer said. “That’s where we come in.”

MaryLynn Pulscher with the Minneapolis Monarch Festival said in an email statement that the festival celebrates monarchs with hands-on exhibits, art and more to inspire people to take action to help the species. 

“Monarchs are a highly visible, charismatic species that many people can easily identify,” Pulscher said in the statement. “This makes monarchs a ‘gateway’ butterfly – sparking joy, curiosity and encouraging exploration of the greater natural world.”

Pulscher said the Monarch Festival co-produced with Monarch Joint Venture and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board with aid from the U.S. Forest Service International Program to spread awareness and advocate for monarchs in Minnesota. 

Krischik said when people buy plants meant for butterflies, like milkweeds and some flowering plants, they do not realize humans have genetically altered those plants for human use rather than for monarch butterflies. Much of the necessary chemicals, nectar and pollen for butterflies have been bred out of them, Krischik added. 

“The plants that grow in gardens, the plants that provide us our food, and then (are) manipulated to maximize what we want out of them, not what insects want out of them,” Krischik said. “Now you have a huge reduction in what plants and insects can use.”

Why care for monarchs and what can be done 

Planting swamp milkweed, common milkweed and other flowering plants can be an easy start for many at-home gardeners, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. However, the types of plants monarchs need are usually only found at specialized native plant nurseries. 

Puffer said she believes many people are concerned about monarch butterflies because they truly love the species and usually have a story or memory about the insect. Puffer said when people start to realize they are not seeing monarchs as often, they feel compelled to do something for them. 

“Whether it’s they remember seeing them in their backyard when they were a kid, or they were raising them in their classroom as a second grader,” Puffer said. “Everybody has a monarch story.”

Krischik said people have a natural affinity for the orange and black butterfly because it is a way of knowing if the environment is safe and healthy. She added people have to accept that the monarch crisis is a real issue and that our current habits are not sustainable for them. 

“How much are we willing to modify our lifestyles?” Krischik said.

Puffer said many problems facing monarch butterflies also impact humans, like poor air quality or lack of green spaces. Puffer added although the local environment has other problems, the monarchs’ decline is telling of larger environmental issues. 

“Those of us who are working in pollinator conservation know that monarchs are declining. We see the data,” Puffer said. “If people are noticing that when they’re not in (conservation) every day, what else are we missing?”

Puffer said there is still hope for monarchs. Monarch Joint Venture and other conservationists are working to help monarch butterflies through habitat restoration, research and spreading awareness by offering classes to learn more, Puffer added. 

The work the Monarch Joint Venture does for monarchs also helps other local wildlife, such as birds and other insects, Puffer added. 

“That’s the thing about conservation is that everything is connected,” Puffer said. “Nothing exists in the vacuum. Everything that we’re doing for monarch butterflies helps other organisms.”

Despite the monarch butterfly population decreasing in recent years, Pulscher said she finds motivation in the butterfly conservation effort by educating kids about the insect. 

“Nothing beats seeing that look of wonder when they see a monarch butterfly emerge from a chrysalis,” Pulscher said “It’s a small miracle every time.”