Monarch butterflies, famous for their orange-and-black wings, could receive federal protection in the United States. On Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to classify monarch butterflies as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act by December 2025. Environmental groups have highlighted the serious decline in monarch populations, caused by habitat destruction, farming practices, and climate change. These issues have reduced the availability of milkweed, an important plant for monarch caterpillars. In 2023, only 2.2 acres of overwintering sites were occupied by monarchs—a 59% decrease from the year before.

The proposed protection aims to reduce harmful activities, such as large-scale killing and illegal transport of butterflies, while allowing limited educational use and incidental losses, like vehicle collisions. Federal officials plan to protect 4,395 acres in seven coastal California counties as critical habitats for breeding and migration. Agricultural groups have expressed concerns about possible regulatory effects but acknowledged the need for voluntary conservation actions. Experts emphasize that protecting monarchs is essential to maintaining ecological balance, highlighting the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change and habitat loss.