South Florida’s 1st News With Andrew Colton

South Florida’s 1st News With Andrew Colton

You likely saw Andrew Colton reporting live from many of the major events that have shaped our world, including the Pentagon on 9/11, the crash of...Full Bio

 

Monarch Butterfly Populations Decrease by 59% in 2024

Monarch butterfly on purple asters

Photo: Sue Zellers / Moment / Getty Images

Monarch butterflies are dwindling in numbers, according to new data.

The World Wildlife Fund led an annual survey of the species and tallied the second-lowest number of monarchs on record.

Officials say monarch butterflies have a key role in sustaining plant ecosystems, but their habitat is become depleted from heat and drought.

"Fewer monarchs hibernating in their traditional forest habitat in Mexico greatly concerns all of us. It's critical that all communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, scientists, and others continue to strengthen our conservation and protection efforts to support the monarch's unique migration," according to Jorge Rickards, general director of WWF Mexico. 

And scientists say the US bee population is declining due to parasites, pesticides, habitat loss, disease, and more.

Bees are important pollinators for our food crops. One out of every three bites of food relies on bee pollination.


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