Monarch Butterflies Face Extinction: Local Efforts Aim to Turn the Tide

Federal wildlife officials have proposed listing the iconic monarch butterfly as an endangered species, citing a staggering 99% chance of extinction for the western population by 2080.

The announcement, made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on December 10, 2024, underscores the sharp decline of western monarchs, whose numbers have plummeted since the 1980s.

In Inland Southern California, the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) is taking action to protect these at-risk pollinators.

Local Leadership in Monarch Conservation

This summer, RCRCD Naturalist Michele Felix-Derbarmdiker joined a groundbreaking pilot program as one of only five people in California authorized to collect, raise, test, and tag western monarch butterflies.

“The law requiring permits was meant to protect monarchs while they were being considered for endangered species listing,” Felix-Derbarmdiker explained. “But it created a two-year gap in our monarch data, which this program is helping to fill.”

The Challenges Monarchs Face

Western monarchs face numerous threats, including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, parasites, and the impacts of climate change. Milkweed, the only plant where monarchs lay their eggs, has been disappearing at an alarming rate.

RCRCD’s Conservation Efforts

RCRCD is working tirelessly to support monarch conservation. The district:

• Manages two acres of monarch habitat in Riverside’s greenbelt.
• Leads various monarch-focused projects in the city.
• Offers free pollinator habitat kits, which benefit monarchs and other pollinators. This program prioritizes underserved communities within RCRCD’s service area.

How You Can Help

RCRCD encourages residents to get involved in monarch conservation by:

• Planting native narrowleaf milkweed.
• Avoiding the use of pesticides.
• Reporting sightings of tagged monarchs to tag@swtag.org.

With collaborative efforts and increased awareness, there’s hope for reversing the monarch’s decline and securing their future.