Monarch Butterflies rebound!

The efforts to re-wild and protect landscapes for monarch butterflies are producing great results. The numbers show promise from the troubling count of less than 2,000 in 2020, and larger than the 250,000 counted last year, according to the Xerces Society, which leads the western monarch count. Over 130,000 butterflies were reported in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties alone. For the second year in a row, the annual Western monarch count has shown a significant increase in population. That said, the storms that hit California after the count will certainly affect the total. At some sites, butterflies were blown out of their clusters, making them more vulnerable to cold. Here are some ways to help: 1) Plant and Grow indigenous milkweed. 2) Cultivate an assortment of nectar plants, preferably those native to your region. 3) Refrain from using pesticides.