We know many of you want to contribute to support monarch butterfly conservation, and we do indeed need your help!

At this time of year, the most effective action each of us can take to protect monarch butterflies is cut back the tropical milkweed in our gardens. We should be sure to continue this practice throughout the winter, to better imitate the life cycle of native milkweeds. We do this because non-native, tropical milkweed provides an artificially available year-round food source to monarchs, which disrupts natural migration patterns and also leads to a build-up of parasites in their bodies that decrease their survival rates.

We will continue sharing science-based information throughout the year about actions you can take to help protect western monarchs. Please stay tuned to our social media and our quarterly newsletters for updates!