Is America’s Favorite Butterfly on the Brink?

All the Biden administration wants for Christmas is the Monarch butterfly to be listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

Okay, maybe that’s not all they want, but with its last month in office, the administration made the announcement on December 12. A public hearing will last until March 12, 2025. The hope for this period is for ideas on how the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should address pesticide use. 

Soundbite: “During this time, we strongly encourage farmers to develop new habitat projects or continue the voluntary monarch conservation initiatives already deployed on their land.” — Matt Mulica, Keystone Policy Center, “Farmers for Monarchs” collaborative 

On March 12, the FWS will decide whether to list the butterfly as a threatened species under section 4(d) of the ESA.

ICYMI, monarch butterflies have been the focal point for a plethora of lawsuits filed by environmental and conservation groups wanting to protect the butterflies from glyphosate, Enlist Duo, and other ag chemicals.

The frightening facts: Monarchs’ eastern migratory population has decreased by 80% since the 1980s. And the western migratory population drop is worse, at 95%. According to the FWS, the western population has a 99% greater chance of extinction by 2080.

Caveat: The proposed listing comes with a rule excluding specific routine ag activities like livestock grazing, habitat restoration and management, and fire management actions. 

And while 20 national ag organizations formed the Farmers for Monarchs, not everyone in ag is supportive.

Soundbite: “This designation would slap widespread restrictions on anything that might ‘disturb’ monarch habitat, making it nearly impossible to build or expand in rural areas. We’re not just talking about farmland. This will impact dairies, wind and solar farms, football stadiums, roads, airports, railways, feedlots, rural hospitals, parking lots, logging, and mining—you name it.” — Sid Miller, Texas ag commissioner