While the monarch migration has been known for centuries, it gained widespread attention in 1976 when a National Geographic magazine cover story revealed their roosting sites in Mexico. The news captivated the world of lepidoptery, solved a long-standing scientific puzzle, and increased human interest and intervention. The discovery led to the establishment of butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico and numerous conservation efforts. Nearly four decades later, concerns about the potential extinction of monarchs have intensified, raising the question: Are they endangered or not? The U.S. Department of the Interior is currently reviewing these concerns and has until the end of 2024 to issue a new ruling on the threatened or endangered status of monarch butterflies.
Monika will explore this question and discuss her own experiences while providing insights into the natural history and science behind this extraordinary phenomenon. She will share unique insights into these insects and offer a detailed look at the evolving community of scientists, enthusiasts, and advocates working to support the monarchs.
Monika Maeckle, a seasoned journalist and nature writer from San Antonio, earned her master gardener certification in 2004. She founded San Antonio’s Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival in 2016, and established the Texas Butterfly Ranch website in 2010. Her book, The Monarch Butterfly Migration Its Rise and Fall is the product of two decades of following, learning about, and being enchanted by the Americas’ most beloved insect, Denaus plexippus. Much of this story was enabled by her family’s ranch on the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country where monarch butterflies roost each fall as well as multiple visits to the roosting sites in Mexico and California.