In recent years, several unexpected freezes in the moutains near Mexico City have killed millions of monarch butterflies. Some scientists have reported being literally up to their necks in piles of dead butterflies. Needless to say, Monarch populations have dwindled as a result. Notice the tag on the butterfly to the left? It is part of a Monarch Monitoring Project that is now counting, weighing and tagging butterflies around Cape May Point, NJ. The last few weeks have been prime time for the Monarch migration and though the monitoring project is not complete yet...it is estimated that this year is the best since 2001. I found a website that talked briefly about the dead butterflies at the Sierra Chincua Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Michoacan, Mexico and how people seach for through the ground that is covered with dead butterflies for the tags. They recieve $5.oo a tag for turning them in. I might start raising Monarchs. There is a program called Monarch Watch where you can tag your own butterflies and release them to help get the population back up. Check it out.
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