California’s western monarch migration hits third-lowest count at 12,260

This winter's survey of the western monarch butterfly revealed over 12,000 individuals, a small rise from last year. Despite this slight increase, conservationists remain alarmed as numbers are still critically low. Ongoing challenges such as habitat loss and environmental stressors severely impact the butterfly population. Conservation initiatives are actively working on restoring habitats and engaging the community in monitoring efforts. The latest winter survey of western monarch butterflies has delivered a mixed picture for conservationists. Annual counts carried out across California's coast and nearby inland sites found a small increase compared with the previous season, but the overall population remains alarmingly low by historical standards. According to Monarch Joint Venture, volunteers recorded just over 12,000 butterflies during the 2025 overwintering season, making it the third-lowest total since organised monitoring began nearly three decades ago. Once numbering in the millions, the western monarch migration has declined dramatically, raising continued concerns about its long-term future.Scientists say the latest figures highlight that isolated year-to-year improvemen...