On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that they are proposing to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. A final decision should be announce in December 2025. Take a look below for more information about what this proposed listing means.
Background Information
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Includes link to listing decision and comment submission
- Videos explaining listing decision
- Dates and times for public meetings and how to register
- Farmers for Monarchs
- Link to comment submission
- Articles, audio recordings, and videos of background material on the listing decision process
Public Comment Period
The public comment period officially ended on May 19th, 2025. You can view submitted comments online by visiting https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137.
Key things to know:
- The USFWS was looking for comments backed by supporting information to better inform their decision
- All comments will be posted online, so any personal information you included will be shared
- Submitting the same comment multiple times, even if submitted by different people, will only be counted as one submission
- Make sure to write your comment using your own words
The USFW was seeking comments on the monarch listing decision and specifically wanted additional input on the following topics:
- Any modification or additional exceptions that should be considered for the 4(d) rule
- If management of milkweed should include a spatial or temporal restriction/deferment
- Should exceptions be made for direct impacts from transportation and energy infrastructure
- i.e. mortality from collisions with wind turbines
- Information on critical habitat proposed for California
- Any additional areas that should be included/excluded from proposed critical habitat designation
- How changes to designation would benefit monarchs
- Special management considerations or protections in critical habitat areas
- Managing for climate change
- Any additional areas that should be included/excluded from proposed critical habitat designation
- How to include pesticide use in the 4(d) rule
- What measures could be taken to reduce/offset exposure to monarchs from pesticides
- Including specific classes of pesticides, pesticide use, and application method
- Which pesticide uses and application methods result in exposure and adverse effects to monarchs
- If these should be included as exceptions in the 4(d) rule
- Should mitigating effects be included
- If so, should they be tailored according to areas and times of year when monarchs are present
- Is it appropriate to offset unavoidable impacts through habitat restoration
- If so, how to accomplish that with a 4(d) rule
- How to convey this information with pesticide users
- What measures could be taken to reduce/offset exposure to monarchs from pesticides
- Any ways to improve/modify approach to 4(d) rule to provide greater public participation and understanding
- Or better accommodate public concerns and comments
Public Meetings and Hearings
The USFWS held two virtual public meetings to summarize the listing decision, address questions from the general public, and listen to any comments people wanted to present. You can watch a video of the summary presentation at https://www.fws.gov/initiative/pollinators/save-monarch. The meetings took place on:
- Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 - 6-8:30pm EST
- Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 - 8-10:30pm EST