Monarch butterflies migrating through Oklahoma: Spot them as they fly by

The beautiful Monarch butterflies have begun their annual Spring migration through Oklahoma. Each year, Monarch butterflies start their spring migration north from the mountains near Mexico City to the Upper Midwest and Canada, passing through the U.S. South and Midwest as they go.

According to David Redhage, President the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the migration usually starts in March and lasts for several weeks.

Redhage said the best way to keep track of the migration is by visiting journeynorth.org, which has an interactive map with volunteer-submitted data for the spring migration. Users can submit the location, date, and a photo of any Monarchs they see out and about.

Currently on the map, there are many entries in Oklahoma, but only one from LeFlore County. That submission said one Monarch was spotted in Howe on April 6. Redhage said that if people want to see Monarchs, just look outside near flowering plants.

Monarchs may be more difficult to spot this year. Currently, the Monarch Butterfly population is in decline. Every year, the overwintering Monarch population is counted in Mexico. According to Monarch Watch, there was a 59.3 percent decrease in the Monarch population this past winter.

This is the second lowest count of Monarchs since recordings began in 1994. Redhage said it’s likely that last year’s drought conditions along the migration path led to a loss of plants that the butterflies need to survive, which in turn led to a smaller population.

“The drought led to a loss of nectaring plants through the Midwest, so it really hurt the population heading south,” Redhage said.

Monarchs are not currently endangered, but were considered for endangered list in 2020, and will be reconsidered in December 2024, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in March 2024.

What can people do to help? According to the Okies for Monarchs website, planting native milkweeds as well as flowering plants will help the Monarch population thrive. The website has a wealth of valuable information on what plants to buy, where you can buy them, and how to create a perfect Monarch habitat.

Milkweed and milkweed related plants are extremely important for Monarchs. Milkweed is a host plant to use while they mature, and they are important for larva as well. Several generations of Monarchs make the migration north every year, so it is important that the Monarchs get everything they need for several life cycles.

“The same Monarchs that leave Mexico are not the same ones that end up back there in the fall,” Redhage said.

Redhage said there are many different types of Milkweed. In fact, Oklahoma has 26 different types of native Milkweed plants. The Kerr Center has a helpful Milkweed guide that can be downloaded from their website.

According to Redhage, its important for people to plant milkweed.

Flowering plants that create nectar are vital for adult Monarchs, too.

“The larva require milkweed, but the adults require other flowering plants to feed on for their energy reserves.”

“They don’t just help Monarchs, they help other native pollinators,” he said. “We’re losing some of our pollinators, and its important that we have them for our food and a lot of the plants that we eat.”

The Okies for Monarchs website has “Wildflowers for Monarchs” seed mixes available from the Johnson Company located in Enid. These are native flowering plants that are great for Monarchs and other native pollinators.

For those who want more information on the Monarch migration, what plants to plant, or what seeds to buy, both the Okies for Monarchs and Monarch Watch websites have a lot of information and resources available.

To learn more about the Kerr Center, sustainable agriculture, and local projects, visit kerrcenter. com.