Monarch Butterflies to Receive Federal Protection as Threatened Species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to list monarch butterflies as a threatened species by the end of next year, following a public comment period. This decision comes after years of declining populations due to climate change, agricultural expansion, and herbicide use affecting milkweed, the butterflies' primary food source. The listing will provide protections under the Endangered Species Act, although some exceptions will apply. Conservationists have long advocated for this move, highlighting the monarch's role as a symbol of the broader environmental crisis.