Where have all the butterflies gone.

[Catherine]

There is no doubt there is decline in butterfly populations. 

One prairie butterfly is in such a decline that the Assiniboine Park Zoo has been breeding and releasing them. They are also studying their genetics to understand why they are in so much trouble.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7196323/assin...tterflies/

I hope their efforts are successful.

Prince Edward Island in an effort to help the Monarch Butterflies has planted pollinator gardens with plenty of milkweed. The butterflies have not returned and the gardens sit empty.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-ed...-1.5657733

I hope this shortage of Monarchs is not too widespread. Toronto has worked to plant butterfly/pollinator gardens. We have milkweed everywhere waiting for the Monarch to arrive. I have seen one butterfly! I have not seen too many of any other species either.

The Monarch population in their wintering grounds in Mexico was 53% less this this past winter. That means less butterflies made it to Mexico and there are less to begin the journey north.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns...-1.5561699

This is very worrying. If there are few butterflies here for the summer then there will be even less that make it to Mexico next winter.
We have all worked so hard to help the butterflies. To see our efforts fail is heartbreaking.