The Brief

LOS ANGELES - The California State Parks Foundation is urging the public to help track the western monarch butterfly population during California Biodiversity Day, which runs from September 6th to September 14th.

The population of these butterflies has plummeted in recent decades, with last year's count being the second-lowest ever recorded.

The backstory:

The western monarch butterfly population, which once numbered in the millions, has seen a drastic decline due to factors such as climate change, habitat loss, and pesticides.

A recent Species Status Assessment predicts there is a greater than 95% chance of extinction for the species by 2080.

The 28th annual Western Monarch Count recorded a peak population of just 9,119 monarchs, a stark contrast to previous decades.

Wh

See Full Page