Saving the Western Monarch
Transition Habitat Conservancy leads the way with milkweed giveaways, education, and habitat preservation.
When people think of the monarch, they usually picture a large butterfly with orange-and-black mosaic patterns. It might even be one of the first images of a butterfly that comes to mind. Did you know this species has an Eastern and Western population? The Rocky Mountains are the geographical barrier separating them.
The Eastern population is responsible for the incredible multigenerational migration between Mexico and Canada. In California, our Western monarchs travel among the Western states and migrate to and overwinter along the coast of California in places like Pismo Beach. The mild climate prevents the butterflies from freezing over the winter, and they spread out to the West again in the spring.
This special butterfly has only one food source during its caterpillar stage: milkweed. There are 15 native milkweed species in California, and monarchs will use any of them to lay their eggs. The milkweed must be free of pesticides, which kill insects, and it also needs space to grow. Many species of milkweed are easy to grow at home in sunny gardens and do well in pots.
Each year in June, Transition Habitat Conservancy hosts its annual Monarch Event, where we give away 1-gallon pots of milkweed to attendees. We also map where the milkweed travels to its new homes and have received locations from Lancaster to Hesperia, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Our milkweed travels all over Southern California, creating new monarch butterfly gardens for the next generation.
Much of the native milkweed habitat has been cleared for farming and development or polluted with pesticides. These factors have contributed to a 95% decline in the Western monarch butterfly population since the 1980s. These are stark numbers, but there is hope! Transition Habitat Conservancy has worked for years to bring monarch butterfly education to our communities, increase awareness of planting milkweed, and create habitats in our neighborhoods for this iconic butterfly. We have also acquired hundreds of acres of monarch habitat to preserve and protect.
We now have the opportunity to get this species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Service has proposed listing the species under the federal Endangered Species Act and has opened the proposal for public comment. It is more important than ever to act during this comment period. We can speak for the monarch butterfly and let the Service know we want this species protected now so future generations can behold this special butterfly.
The comment period is open and closes on March 12, 2025. Don’t let this opportunity to make a vital impact pass you by. Join us as we rally to protect our Western monarch butterfly!
In other news, registration is now completely filled for our first-ever California Naturalist course: “Introduction to the Mojave Desert.” Transition Habitat Conservancy is a proud partner of the University of California’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR). This statewide network of more than 70 partners works to promote environmental literacy and stewardship through discovery and action.
To become a certified California Naturalist, participants need to enroll in and complete a 40-plus-hour course. The UC Environmental Stewards program gives Californians the knowledge, skills, and network to help protect and preserve our unique and diverse wildlife and habitats, increasing ecosystem and community resilience.
Transition Habitat Conservancy strives to provide education about the fragile and inspirational nature of our desert plants, animals, and ecosystems to connect people to nature. We are proud to be the first and only UCANR partner to offer a Mojave Desert-specific California Naturalist course, which will be offered for the first time in March 2025.
