By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/monarch-butterflies Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter In Photos: Fewer Monarch butterflies are becoming ‘snowbirds’ Science Dec 24, 2013 11:40 AM EDT Monarch butterflies are known to flit around North America, but they live on other continents as well. Take a look at these winged creatures from around the world in our slideshow. First, it was disappearing bees. Now, it appears that Monarch butterflies are suffering a decline. When the chill of winter comes, Monarch butterflies with their fragile stained glass-patterned wings travel up to 3,000 miles from the continental United States to their favorite spots to hibernate: the dense tree cover of central Mexico’s Oyamel firs and the warmth of southern California. But researchers have noticed the number of Monarch butterflies flocking to central Mexico in winter has been creeping downward over the past 20 years. Logging of Oyamel trees, colder and wetter winters, and the removal of milkweed — which feed larvae — in the United States are some of the reasons cited. A family in Westmont, Ill., raises Monarch butterflies in their backyard. Photo by Ryan Rayburn/Chicago Tribune/MCT via Getty Images Some people have taken matters into their own hands to try to aid the appealing insects and have planted milkweed and fragrant nectar-producing flowers in their yards and widow boxes. Learn how to grow a butterfly garden. We’ll air a report on the Monarch butterfly and its decreasing numbers in Mexico on Tuesday’s PBS NewsHour. You can read the transcript or watch it here: Related resources In Oregon, rare ‘snowstorm’ of pine butterflies takes toll on forests NOVA’s Journey of the Butterflies tracks the butterflies’ path to Mexico. See a map of the Monarchs’ migration — from the Flight of the Butterflies in 3D website. View all of our World coverage. Follow @NewsHourWorld We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
Monarch butterflies are known to flit around North America, but they live on other continents as well. Take a look at these winged creatures from around the world in our slideshow. First, it was disappearing bees. Now, it appears that Monarch butterflies are suffering a decline. When the chill of winter comes, Monarch butterflies with their fragile stained glass-patterned wings travel up to 3,000 miles from the continental United States to their favorite spots to hibernate: the dense tree cover of central Mexico’s Oyamel firs and the warmth of southern California. But researchers have noticed the number of Monarch butterflies flocking to central Mexico in winter has been creeping downward over the past 20 years. Logging of Oyamel trees, colder and wetter winters, and the removal of milkweed — which feed larvae — in the United States are some of the reasons cited. A family in Westmont, Ill., raises Monarch butterflies in their backyard. Photo by Ryan Rayburn/Chicago Tribune/MCT via Getty Images Some people have taken matters into their own hands to try to aid the appealing insects and have planted milkweed and fragrant nectar-producing flowers in their yards and widow boxes. Learn how to grow a butterfly garden. We’ll air a report on the Monarch butterfly and its decreasing numbers in Mexico on Tuesday’s PBS NewsHour. You can read the transcript or watch it here: Related resources In Oregon, rare ‘snowstorm’ of pine butterflies takes toll on forests NOVA’s Journey of the Butterflies tracks the butterflies’ path to Mexico. See a map of the Monarchs’ migration — from the Flight of the Butterflies in 3D website. View all of our World coverage. Follow @NewsHourWorld We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now