Butterfly population continues to grow at Monarch Sanctuary in Pacific Grove
Updated: 4:15 PM PST Dec 6, 2022
Butterfly population continues to grow at Monarch Sanctuary in Pacific Grove
Updated: 4:15 PM PST Dec 6, 2022
BRISA COLON VISTITED WITH THEM AT THEIR SANCTUARY THIS AFTERNOON...### CHRISTIAN... THE BUTTERFLIES ARE BACK LIKE THEY NEVER LEFT... AND THE CROWDS WERE HERE TODAY TO SEE THE SPECTACULAR SIGHT... <"PACIFIC GROVE CALLS ITSELF BUTTERFLY TOWN USA."> SUNDAY THE PACIFIC GROVE MONARCH SANTUARY WAS CROWDED WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND THOUSANDS OF BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES... <"THEY'RE BIG. I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE SO BIG. AND BEAUTIFUL AND COLORFUL OF COURSE."> <"I LOVE THEM THEY LIKE ME. WHAT COLOR ARE THE BUTTERFLIES... THEY ARE ORANGE!"> THIS YEAR THE MONARCHS ARE SEEN AS A SYMBOL OF PERSERVERANCE ESPECIALLY HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO REBOUND FROM HAVING ZERO OF THEM BACK IN 2020... LAST YEAR THEY SAW ABOUT 13 THOUSAND.... AND THIS YEAR THE CURRENT NUMBER SITS AT 11 THOUSAND.. 1 HUNDRED 71... MONARCHS... <"HOW DID THAT HAPPEN. LOTS OF WHOOPI. LOTS OF BREEDING HAD TO OCCUR BUT IT'S FOUR GENERATIONS."> <"FOR FOUR GENERATIONS THEY HAD GOOD BREEDING CONDITIONS AND WITH GOOD BREEDING CONDITIONS THEY CAN PRODUCE REMARKABLE NUMBER OF BUTTERFLIES."> EXPERTS SAY THIS SECOND YEAR OF POSITIVE TRENDS MAKES THEM HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE... <"WHICH IS LOVELY BECAUSE MONARCHS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A STEEP DECLINE OVER THE PAST DECADES WITH A RECORD LOW."> BUTTERFLIES STAY OFF THE COAST FOR THE ENTIRE WINTER.. AND MIGRATE BACK AND FORTH FROM NORTHERN STATES LIKE OREGON AND WASHINGTON... EXPERTS COUNTING EACH ONE BY HAND... <"WE LEARNED HOW THEY COUNT THEM HOW THEY COUNT THEM HOW THEY ALL JUST TAKE ESTIMATES OF ONE LITTLE CLUSTER."> BUT EVEN DESPITE THEIR BEAUTIFUL COLOR... THE CREATURES ARE POISONOUS... <"COMPRESS THE HEART ON ANY CREATURE THAT HAS HAS HEART IF IT EATS IT. TOXIC. YOUNG BIRDS LEARN TO LEAVE THEM ALONE. THEY ARE REALLY COLORFUL. IN NATURE WHAT DOES COLOR MEAN? DANGER. DON'T EAT ME."> PAUL SAYS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE MONARCHS ALIVE... <"WE ARE THE PROBLEM. HABITAT DESTRUCTION. CONVERSATION OF LAND FROM GOOD HABITAT TO BAD HABITAT CALLED NEW HOUSES IT'S AG POLICY."> THE EXPERTS DON'T WANT TO JINX IT BUT THIS YEARS NUMBERS ARE LOOKING SO FAR PRETTY GREAT AND THEY ARE HOPEFULL THEY REACH LAST YEARS NUMBERS OR EVEN HIGHER... REPORTING
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Butterfly population continues to grow at Monarch Sanctuary in Pacific Grove
Updated: 4:15 PM PST Dec 6, 2022
Video from previous broadcast. The latest monarch butterfly count in Pacific Grove found 15,960 butterflies living at the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. According to the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, recent rain and wind have not hurt the population but have led to a lot of monarchs being grounded and leaving the trees. RELATED | How do volunteers count thousands of monarch butterflies?"Please be sure to watch out for them and let them hang out peacefully as they wait for warmth," said the museum on Facebook. How to help the MonarchsHere are five ways to help the monarch butterfly population, according to the Pacific Grove Museum.Plant native milkweeds if you live farther than 5-10 miles from an overwintering site. Close proximity to an overwintering site is a "no milkweed zone," and includes all of Pacific Grove. These areas are not part of milkweed's historic range, and the introduction of the non-native plant can disrupt natural migratory patterns and introduce increased levels of monarch parasites.Plant native nectar plants if you live close to an overwintering site, like Pacific Grove, you should plant nectar-bearing, or flowering, plants. Especially ones that will bloom in the fall, winter, and/or spring when monarchs are on the peninsula. These flowers will provide food for adult monarch butterflies, which is the only life cycle stage that would naturally occur here.Refrain from using pesticides around your home — herbicides and insecticides — since these can harm monarch butterflies when they visit your garden.Support legislation that protects the habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of the population decline of the western monarch butterfly.Volunteer at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. Educating the public about the importance of protecting these important overwintering sites is a great way to spread awareness of the plight of the monarch and its amazing migration. Inquire about volunteer opportunities at the PG Museum of Natural History. No experience is necessary.
PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. —
Video from previous broadcast.
The latest monarch butterfly count in Pacific Grove found 15,960 butterflies living at the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary.
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According to the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, recent rain and wind have not hurt the population but have led to a lot of monarchs being grounded and leaving the trees.
RELATED | How do volunteers count thousands of monarch butterflies?
"Please be sure to watch out for them and let them hang out peacefully as they wait for warmth," said the museum on Facebook.
How to help the Monarchs
Here are five ways to help the monarch butterfly population, according to the Pacific Grove Museum.
- Plant native milkweeds if you live farther than 5-10 miles from an overwintering site. Close proximity to an overwintering site is a "no milkweed zone," and includes all of Pacific Grove. These areas are not part of milkweed's historic range, and the introduction of the non-native plant can disrupt natural migratory patterns and introduce increased levels of monarch parasites.
- Plant native nectar plants if you live close to an overwintering site, like Pacific Grove, you should plant nectar-bearing, or flowering, plants. Especially ones that will bloom in the fall, winter, and/or spring when monarchs are on the peninsula. These flowers will provide food for adult monarch butterflies, which is the only life cycle stage that would naturally occur here.
- Refrain from using pesticides around your home — herbicides and insecticides — since these can harm monarch butterflies when they visit your garden.
- Support legislation that protects the habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of the population decline of the western monarch butterfly.
- Volunteer at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. Educating the public about the importance of protecting these important overwintering sites is a great way to spread awareness of the plight of the monarch and its amazing migration. Inquire about volunteer opportunities at the PG Museum of Natural History. No experience is necessary.