Monarch Butterflies: Their Epic Migration & Hope for a Species in Decline

Each year, millions of migratory eastern monarch butterflies embark on a breathtaking 3,000-mile migration from North America to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, where they hibernate in the towering Oyamel fir forests. But this iconic species is in trouble. WWF's research conducted with conservation partners since the early 2000s shows that the eastern monarch population has been trending downward for years. And while the latest report released by WWF and the Government of Mexico found that the population nearly doubled during the 2024-2025 winter, this latest finding is still far below the long-term average.

In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson speaks with Court Whelan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Natural Habitat Adventures, about the wonders of the monarch's migration, the threats they face, and the conservation efforts bringing hope for their future. Discover how you can help protect these incredible pollinators, from planting native milkweed to utilizing your own personal "superpower" to advance conservation efforts. Join us for an inspiring conversation that highlights why monarchs are worth saving and what we can all do to ensure their survival.

Links for More Info:Court Whelan bio

Natural Habitat Adventures

WWF: Eastern monarch butterfly population nearly doubles in 2025

WWF Milkweed Finder

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Preview

0:15 Intro

1:58 Court's backstory

4:53 Monarch migration

13:42 Inside an expedition to the monarch's winter home in Mexico

16:45 A "snow globe" of monarchs

23:10 Threats to monarchs

24:48 Why should we care about saving monarchs?

30:37 Hope for the future of monarchs

33:14 Outro