Monarch Butterflies are a species at risk and numbers have dropped by as much as 90 per cent across North America in the last 20 years.

"Over the last 20 years it's been up to and above of 90 per cent declines in their population," said Ashley Vass, a Habitat Stewardship Coordinator for Nature Saskatchewan. "In the last few years it's been significantly low. They're actually a species at risk. Federally they are protected as a special concern species but it's been recommended that they have federal protection of an endangered species."

Monarch butterflies are a spectacular creature. Not only are they absolutely beautiful but they complete the longest and largest insect migration in North America. Millions of Monarchs fly thousands of kilometres from their summer habitats to their wintering grounds. Saskatchewan is at the northern extent of the Monarch’s range and Nature Saskatchewan is asking the public to keep an eye out for these royal butterflies to help monitor their population and aid in habitat conservation efforts.

"To help Monarchs report sightings," Vass added. "Monitoring the population is really important. Seeing what areas they are using in their breeding habitats is really important. So if you see a Monarch Butterfly, if you could call our hotline, it's 1-800-667-HOOT. That would be really helpful. If you can also provide the location of the butterfly, how many you saw and how we can reach you."

One of the largest threats to the butterflies is habitat loss, both in the winter and summer breeding grounds, due to logging, destructive bark beetles, agriculture, urban development, and pesticide use affecting milkweed and wildflowers.

Photo of monarch caterpillar on milkweed plant. Photo taken by Sarah Vinge-Mazer.

"The main thing people can do to help Monarch Butterflies is to plant milkweed," said Vass. "This is a species of plant that the butterfly's reproduction relies on completely because it's the only species that the adult butterflies lay their eggs on. So it's the species that the caterpillars eat as they grow. So if people can plant milkweed, that would be extremely helpful. Or if you have milkweed, say in your pasture, if you could let it be. But also other wildflowers, the adults actually eat nectar from a large variety of wildflowers. So planting wildflowers or having wildflowers around is really helpful too."

While looking for monarch butterflies, it is common to confuse them for other species including queen butterflies, painted lady butterflies and viceroys.

Photo of viceroy taken by Allison Sanborn.

"Monarchs are orange and they have black veining that goes throughout their wings," explained Vass. "Monarchs and viceroys both have black around their wing's edges, as well as rows of white spots. Monarchs have two rows of white spots and with the viceroys it's a little bit more muddled, sometimes just one. But the viceroys have an additional vein that intersects their hindwings. So it goes across all the other veins on the hindwing. That's the best way to tell if it's actually a viceroy. We always recommend people to take a picture and submit the photo to us for confirmation."

Monarchs are also very large and can grow to about eight to 12 centimeters.

Monarch butterflies move north throughout the summer, laying eggs along the way. This often takes place over four generations. Eventually, the butterflies are triggered by weather to head back south. The eastern population of monarch butterflies stay all of winter in a specific area of a fir tree forest in Mexico.

Luckily, there are some people that are now raising monarch butterflies at home. Which is another way to increase the butterfly's population.

At the very least, you should report any sightings of the monarch butterfly to Nature Saskatchewan at 1-800-667-HOOT(4668).