OKLAHOMA — Monarch butterflies are making their way through Oklahoma right now, and experts say this is a critical time for these important pollinators.
Laura Reynolds with Okies for Monarchs says Oklahoma is part of the migration funnel as monarchs head south to Mexico for the winter. The first week of October is typically when we see the biggest influx of butterflies passing through the state.
But Reynolds says monarch populations have dropped by 90% over the last 30 years, making them a possible endangered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering listing them as threatened or endangered due to their declining numbers.
“The challenges that monarchs are facing right now, besides just loss of habitat, climate change is affecting them,” Reynolds said. “We are finding that as the temperatures are warming, it’s delaying the migration, which can become a problem if they arrive to Oklahoma later than what we’re used to them being here.”
Reynolds says monarchs serve as an indicator species for the overall health of pollinators in the ecosystem. They’re often called the “canary in the coal mine” for environmental conditions affecting bees, wasps and other pollinators.
The same butterflies that fly to Mexico are the ones that return in the spring, making adequate nectar sources critical for their survival.
You can also register your yard as a Monarch Waystation through the University of Kansas Monarch Watch program. A waystation can be as small as a few square feet.
Okies for Monarchs works with several organizations including the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, Tulsa Zoo and Oklahoma City Zoo to host educational events throughout the spring and fall.
