The monarch butterfly contributes to the health of our planet by pollinating many types of plants, supporting ecosystems all along its migratory path across North America.
According to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, over 900 million monarch butterflies have vanished in the past 20 years. This severe decline in their population has caused the International Union for Conservation of Nature to classify the monarch butterfly as a vulnerable species, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed the monarch to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Many factors are contributing to the decline of the monarch butterfly: land development, environmental changes, severe weather and pesticides have a significant impact. However, the primary cause is a severe loss of milkweed. This native North American plant is the only food monarch caterpillars can eat, and the only place the butterflies lay their eggs.
In 2015, the Chickasaw Cultural Center joined a growing partnership to aid in the monarch butterfly preservation efforts. Since we are located along their migration path, our initiative began with the creation of our Butterfly Garden. It provides a safe and welcoming habitat for migrant monarchs. Over time we have planted more than 80 additional garden beds full of plant species to support the butterflies on their journey.
The Chickasaw Cultural Center hosts special events and conservation workshops throughout the year, which attract thousands of visitors. During these outreach opportunities we educate the public and provided pollinator plants for home gardens. In 2024, we distributed more than 8,600 plants to guests.
The spring migration typically begins in mid-March with the last of the butterflies leaving by the end of the month. Overwintering adults have lifespans of eight or nine months, while summer monarchs live only three to five weeks. Butterflies leaving the overwintering migration location do not complete the entire northward journey.
As they migrate north, they mate and lay eggs on milkweed plants. Each female monarch butterfly can lay hundreds of eggs over the summer. Once these caterpillars hatch and metamorphose into butterflies, they recolonize their parents' original northern homes.
Each year, butterflies migrate from the northern United States and Canada to Mexico. Monarchs use environmental cues to know when it is time to travel south for the winter. They use a combination of air currents and high altitudes to travel long distances. Some fly as many as 3,000 miles to reach their final winter destination.
Monarchs roost at an elevation between 8,000 and 12,000 feet in oyamel fir forests. Air temperatures range from 32 to 47 degrees Fahrenheit, warm enough to ensure the butterflies can preserve their fat reserves. The humidity provides moisture so the butterflies will not dry out, allowing them to conserve energy.
Although the Chickasaw Cultural Center horticulture team works year-round on the pollinator management plan, there are many simple and inexpensive ways you can support these conservation efforts at home:
