Monarch Migrations

Monarch on Frostweed Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider

By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener

It may still be summer outside, but it is not too early to think about fall Monarch migration.  In fact, the Monarch Blitz, a yearly event to engage and educate the public about Monarchs, has just ended.   For the ten-day Monarch Blitz, the public across North America is invited to observe Monarchs, their eggs, chrysalises and caterpillars and then report their sightings to community science programs such as iNaturalist, Journey North, and the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project.  The data will be used for science research, to better our understanding about Monarchs, and to support Monarch conservations efforts.  (See  https://www.fws.gov/story/2025-07/join-monarch-blitz-july-25-august-3-2025 ) 

We started 2025 by writing about the possibility of the Monarch being listed as an endangered species and we are awaiting a final decision.  As we previously reported, the extinction estimates for both the eastern and western populations are not encouraging.   (See https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-12/monarch-butterfly-proposed-endangered-species-act-protection#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20eastern%20migratory%20population,the%20effects%20of%20climate%20change )  But there is so much we can do to support these Monarch populations and prevent their extinctions.

And there is some good news.  The eastern Monarch population is estimated by the size of its overwintering forest area in Mexico.  The 2025 count saw a 99% increase in the area occupied by Monarchs from 0.9 hectares last winter to 1.81 hectares this winter. But that is still below the area that indicates a sustainable population.  Previously, we wrote about the various factors that have contributed to this decline and the steps we can all take to support Monarchs as they migrate through Texas in the spring and fall.   

Monarchs have always been a part of my life.  Here in Texas, my family and the elementary students I taught tagged Monarchs each fall as part of the Monarch Watch tagging program.  The only way we would know if a Monarch we tagged made it to Mexico is if a person recovered the tag.  When Monarch Joint Venture announced their 2025 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series, I eagerly awaited their July webinar entitled: The Science of Radio Tagging Monarchs

(See https://monarchjointventure.org/resources/monarch-webinar-series/monarch-research/the-science-of-radio-tagging-monarchs

I couldn’t believe that putting a radio tag on a butterfly was even possible. The webinar follows the development of a tagging system that is small and light enough to be attached to the adult Monarch butterfly without disrupting its flight.  And the data it collects can reveal its flight pattern, how long and where it rests, and how quickly it flies.  I was amazed that they could track a butterfly on a 700-mile trip down the East Coast.  Still in its beginning stages, there is the possibility that the public will be able to participate in the tracking but as of now there are no tracking towers near us. Imagine being able to follow the daily journey of “your” Monarch as it leaves Canada and heads to Mexico!  Growing up, I could never imagine being able to track an individual Monarch in real time.  I hope that our expanding knowledge about their migration will help us prevent their extinction and pass on their legacy to future butterfly and human generations.  

If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700.   Additional information, and our blog for access to past articles, is available at westtexasgardening.org.  Click on “Resources”.