Save the Monarch

Our beloved butterfly

With its iconic orange and black markings, the monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable species in North America. Monarchs are particularly remarkable because they migrate each year, flying from as far as Canada and across the United States to congregate at a few forested overwintering sites in the mountains of central Mexico and coastal California. These sites are an amazing phenomenon: thousands of monarchs cluster in the trees in California, and millions of monarchs drape large swathes of forest in Mexico.

But over the past two decades, monarch numbers in North America have declined, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to join Tribes, state agencies, other federal agencies and non-government groups to identify threats to the monarch and take steps to conserve monarchs throughout their range.

Working together to save the monarch

As the premiere conservation agency in the United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the responsibility to ensure that the monarch migration phenomenon continues. It’s going to take everyone – from government agencies to individuals to ensure a future filled with monarchs. You can do your part for monarchs in your backyard, in your back forty and along every back road.

We're “all in” on monarch conservation. And we can’t do it alone. We're focused on increasing monarch habitat on the lands we manage and engaging with all partners on monarch conservation, including Tribes, state and federal agencies and conservation groups.

Monarch butterflies are known for their impressive long-distance migration and large clusters they form while overwintering in Mexico and coastal California. Once abundant, monarch butterfly populations have been steadily declining since the mid-1990s due to several threats. Here, you can find information about how you can help monarchs, contribute to their habitat and find resources and assistance to help guide your actions.

You can help save the monarch

 Everyone can play a role in monarch conservation.

Whether you're a farmer, part of the business community, a scientist, a home gardener, a government partner, or just an interested citizen, you can get involved. Explore information and resources to help.

• Federal, tribal, state & local governments
• Agriculture and ranching
• Rights-of-way
• Home gardeners
• Business communities
• Education & science
• International collaboration

Status under the Endangered Species Act

Is the monarch endangered?

According to the most recent monarch Species Status Assessment, by 2080 the probability of extinction for eastern monarchs ranges from 56 to 74% and the probability of extinction for western monarchs is greater than 95%. Threats to the species include the loss and degradation of breeding, migratory and overwintering habitat, exposure to insecticides and the effects of climate change .

Is the monarch federally protected now?

No. We have proposed to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Protections would not apply until the effective date of a final rule. Learn more about the process to list a species as threatened or endangered.

Proposal to list as threatened

In late 2024, we sought public comment and held two public hearings on a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The listing proposal was accompanied by a proposed critical habitat designation for the species at its overwintering grounds in coastal California and a proposed 4(d) rule that offers species-specific protections and flexibilities to encourage conservation.

There has not yet been a final ruling.