Monarchs and other native species need us. Here's how we can help.

Fall is a wonderful season in Oklahoma. It heralds a much-needed reprieve from summer’s heat, the excitement of a new school year, and near and dear to most Oklahomans' hearts — the start of football season. Fall also brings masses of monarch butterflies on their astounding journey to Mexico. Some of them will travel 3,000 miles in just a few weeks. Their incredible migration is under threat, though, and the monarch population has declined by 90%. 

Earlier this year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the eastern migratory monarch butterfly endangered. The main threats for monarchs include habitat loss due to urbanization, agricultural intensification and wide-spread pesticide use, as well as climate change causing increased incidence of severe weather such as droughts or freezing rain events. 

Nationally, dozens of organizations, coalitions and researchers are working together across the country to help slow and reverse the decline of monarchs. Two of the largest national organizations are Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) and MonarchWatch. Local governments are involved, as well, through the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Mayors for Monarchs program in which mayors and other local and tribal government leaders pledge to create monarch and pollinator habitats. 

In 2020, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) established the North America Monarch Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) program. This is the first SAFE program for an insect. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden and over 100 other U.S. zoos and aquariums have joined this effort to leverage their large collective audiences to create habitat for monarchs and other pollinators. MJV, MonarchWatch and NWF are also Monarch SAFE program partners. 

In addition to these organizations, there are researchers across the country studying monarchs, including here in Oklahoma at Oklahoma State University. Oklahoma also has its own monarch focused conservation organization, the Oklahoma Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative, also known as Okies for Monarchs. This collaborative was founded in 2016 and includes representatives from key stakeholder organizations across the state. Its goal is to create and protect habitat for monarchs and other pollinators throughout Oklahoma. 

The OKC Zoo is helping create a habitat for monarchs and other pollinators by including nectar-producing plants and milkweed in its parking lot and gardens across the zoo. Monarch butterflies feed on nectar, and their caterpillars feed on a variety of milkweed plants. The nectar plants also benefit other pollinators, which face the same threats as monarchs. In the broader Oklahoma City metro area, the OKC Zoo is creating pollinator habitats with the Living Classrooms Grant program. Grants are provided to OKC metro-area schools to plant pollinator gardens at the schools. Teachers also receive training to design a successful garden and use it to teach their students a variety of subjects. The gardens connect students to nature and help foster an appreciation for biodiversity. Eighteen gardens have been established, and five more will be installed this fall. 

Monarchs and other native species need our help. You can create a habitat by planting a variety of flowering plants and milkweed. Native plants are best, and be sure to select plants that have not been treated with pesticides. Don’t use pesticides in your yard. They kill all insects, including butterflies. For more information and sources for monarch-safe plants, go to the Okies for Monarchs website. Fall is great time to start, or add to, your pollinator garden and help monarchs!

Rebecca Snyder is Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s director of conservation and science. Emily Geest is the zoo's postdoctoral fellow in conservation and science.