Monarch Butterflies Plummet 80%—Will New Protections Come in Time?

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Monarch butterflies face a decade-long battle for federal protection as their population has plummeted more than 80% since the 1990s.

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The Fish and Wildlife Service reopened public comment until May 19 on the proposal to list monarchs as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

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Conservation groups suspect the Trump administration's pro-pesticide stance might derail protection efforts despite the planned December decision deadline.

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Protecting monarchs presents unique challenges as they migrate across all 48 continental states and face opposition from agricultural interests concerned about pesticide regulations.

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Home gardeners can create monarch-friendly habitats by planting native milkweed—the only plant where monarchs lay eggs—and avoiding tropical varieties that harbor harmful parasites.

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Experts recommend cutting back milkweed in fall to encourage monarchs to continue their migration rather than settling permanently.

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The Center for Biological Diversity first petitioned for monarch protection in 2014, highlighting the butterfly's decade-long wait for federal safeguards.

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Wendy Caldwell of Monarch Joint Venture believes the extended comment period won't delay the December deadline for officially listing the species as threatened.

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