Global climate change has made things difficult, and occasionally deadly, for beings that migrate. Times are tough for monarch butterflies across the United States, but a new study in Biological Conservation shows that the subset of the monarch population that overwinter in California are likely to be the first to disappear. Based on a combination of historical data and citizen science, researchers conclude that there has been a 97% decline in the butterfly population over a 40 year period, from 10 million to about 300,000, Sierra reports. If the current trend continues, the butterflies face an 86% chance of extinction over the next 20 years. The exact cause for the die-off is unknown, but researchers speculate that in addition to changes in climate, a combination of land-use changes and pesticides may be to blame. As we humans face fire and water in unprecedented amounts this year, these monarchs have been telling us for quite some time that we need to change our ways to heal our planet. Which is home to all of us.
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