Iconic — and vulnerable — critters to arrive on California’s coasts. How to help
An iconic critter will arrive on the coasts of California soon, and conservationists want the public to help keep a look out for the endangered species.
One way you can help is by reporting monarch butterfly sightings to the California State Parks Foundation, the organization said in a news release obtained by the Sacramento Bee.
Western monarchs migrate to the Pacific Coast and gather in grove trees each year in “spectacular winter gatherings” — and it can be quite a special sight to behold, according to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The organization tracks these annual migrations via the Western Monarch Count.
The species once gathered by the millions, but over the years their numbers have dwindled considerably — and plunged lower than 10,000 last year, the California State Parks Foundation said.
“Numerous factors have contributed to this decline, including climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, and disease,” the foundation said.
Last year, the Xerces Society found that populations had declined to a near-record low of 9,119 — “the second-lowest overwintering population ever recorded” — since the society began tracking in 1997, both organizations said.
“A Species Status Assessment predicts a greater than 95% chance of extinction for western monarchs by 2080,” the organization said.
Data from your observations and reports “will help scientists understand where these butterflies are at different times of the year and will also help inform the upcoming 29th annual Western Monarch Count,” the organization said.
Here’s how you can help, just in time for California Biodiversity Day to kick off from Sept. 6 to Sept 14:
How to help western monarch butterflies in California
Luckily, it’s as simple as using a phone app.
“Californians who want to participate in the process of observing and reporting monarch butterfly sightings can do so with the following steps:
- Download the free iNaturalist app and start an account.
- Snap a photo of a monarch butterfly or caterpillar.
- Upload an observation to iNaturalist.”
State parks in California “provide critical habitat” for the species, the organization said.
“Last year, California State Parks Foundation released an analysis of 26 years of data on the western monarch butterfly population, showing that a significant number of those counted are found in California state parks,” the organization said. “In 2024-2025, Lighthouse Field State Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach, and Pismo State Beach were among the top overwintering sites for western monarchs.”
The annual winter migration, called overwintering, “is a vital phase in a western monarch butterfly’s life cycle,” the organization said. It allows the critters to rest and conserve energy “before spring mating and northward migration” — and California’s overwintering groves provide the exact microclimate the species needs to survive, “including protection from the wind and cold, dappled sunlight, and ample nectar sources,” according to the release.
These overwintering groves are present in state parks, including:
- Natural Bridges State Beach
- Lighthouse Field State Beach
- New Brighton State Beach
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Morro Bay State Park
- Montaña de Oro State Park
- Pismo State Beach
- Gaviota State Park
- Point Mugu State Park
- Leo Carrillo State Park
- Doheny State Beach
- San Clemente State Park
- Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
“California State Parks Foundation has helped lead the development of overwintering grove management plans at several state parks. The organization has also funded restoration projects and helped organize volunteer events where participants support the monarch butterfly population through activities like planting native nectar plants,” the organization said. “It is also advocating for western monarch butterflies to be listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.”
Californians who want to support that effort can sign the organization’s petition.
“The western monarch butterfly is an iconic species for our state,” Randy Widera, director of programssed for California State Parks Foundation, said in the release. “Californians have a key role to play in the preservation of this species, from helping scientists track where the butterflies are located to advocating for the protection of their habitat. We’re encouraging Californians to get involved by taking a few easy steps to report monarch butterfly sightings.”
