Just over 9,000 monarchs were counted in California last winter, the second lowest ever since the annual count began in 1997

Once, millions of monarchs wintered in California. But climate change, habitat loss, widespread pesticide use and disease have dwindled their numbers down into the thousands. Experts predict if action isn’t taken to preserve the butterflies, there is a 95% chance they’ll be extinct by 2080.

The number of monarch butterflies in California is in sharp decline this year. This is the second-lowest population recording since tracking began in 1997. Biologists say record-high late summer temperatures and drought in the West likely contributed to the dropoff.

The number of monarch butterflies spending winter in the western U.S. dropped dramatically this year, despite moves to extend protections for the insect.

The Western population of the monarch butterfly has declined to a near-record low with fewer than 10,000 found living in California this winter, a foreboding sign for the future of the beloved black-and-orange insect.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking steps to list monarch butterflies as threatened species and designate seven coastal California counties as critical habitats.

Hundreds of volunteers and partners participated in the 28th annual Western Monarch Count by attempting to identify all of the overwintering monarch butterflies in California. The results coincide with monarch butterflies being proposed for protection under the U.

Scientists are grappling with a stark population decline of the western monarch butterfly after the species’ numbers hit a near all-time low.

The number of monarch butterflies spending the winter in the western United States dropped dramatically this year even as federal officials move to extend protections for the beloved pollinator

A winter count of visiting monarch butterflies found a steep drop from previous years, which has scientists worried about the beloved insect.

Not that long ago, monarch butterflies used to migrate in droves. However, over the last few decades, the number of these iconic creatures has dropped drastically.