California’s winter monarch migration has collapsed from millions in the 1990s to 12,260 butterflies in 2025; the third-lowest count ever recorded |
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…