Monarch butterflies deserve federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday, but the black-and-orange insects must wait in line behind 161 other species facing more imminent threats.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it expects to list these winged pollinators for protection under the landmark conservation law in fiscal 2024, which begins on Oct. 1, 2023.
Monarch butterflies, known for migrating thousands of miles (km) across North America, have experienced a decades-long U.S. population decline due to habitat loss caused by human activities such as farming and urban development, the widespread use of pesticides, a…
Keep on reading: U.S. says monarch butterflies deserve protection, but must wait in line