The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has added the migratory monarch butterfly to their Red List of Threatened Species.
Although this listing is similar and consistent with the ESA Species Status Assessment, the final ruling by the US Fish and Wildlife Service is not expected until 2024. This means there is no new protection for monarch butterflies at this time. California residents still must apply for a permit to touch monarchs in any life cycle stage, that has not changed. What the IUCN listing does do is show just how imperiled monarchs are and is a call to action for us to work harder to conserve this iconic species. Click below to learn more about the listing.
