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Western Monarchs

A close up of a monarch butterfly that has just had a radio transmitter attached to it. The monarch is gently held in place with transparent paper, and the tiny solar panel of the transmitter is across the top of its thorax.
With Upgraded Transmitters, We Can Now Track Migrating Monarchs Better than Ever
Xerces has been helping to test these new tags for over a year, and we are excited to finally put them into widespread use.
A male and female monarch rest on a branch in the sun in Santa Cruz (c. Diana Magor)
Western Monarchs Experience Average Winter Declines at Overwintering Sites
Migratory western monarchs experienced a 41% seasonal decrease at California overwintering sites compared to peak November tally.
Many monarchs lying fallen on the ground, in the process of dying.
How Urban Pesticides Can Harm Monarch Butterflies: A Cautionary Tale from California
In January 2024, volunteers stumbled upon a devastating scene: scores of dead and dying monarch butterflies near the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary overwintering grove.
Mia Monroe inspecting a milkweed plant
Mia Monroe of Mill Valley, California: A Monarch Whisperer With Data-Driven Devotion
Mia Monroe, both a founder and dedicated volunteer of the Western Monarch Count, can trace her conservationist spirit back to her childhood.

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