The final survey period of the Xerces Society’s Western Monarch Count ended recorded 6,464 monarch butterflies across 193 overwintering sites. This tally is 47% lower than the mid-season count of 12,260 butterflies, compared with 35%-58% seen in the past ten years.
Western Monarch Count
Western Monarchs Experience Average Winter Declines at Overwintering Sites
Migratory western monarchs experienced a 41% seasonal decrease at California overwintering sites compared to peak November tally.