Monarchs Have Left

Seems like only yesterday that the monarchs arrived on the Day of the Dead in November. For nearly five months, the monarchs graced their ancestral homes among Oyamel forests in Mexico and Michoacán states, in Central México. They have now returned north to breed.

The last stopping point in the Rio Grande valley site is now empty of monarchs.

Evelyn, a middle school student living in the área remarked: “The forest looks now all bright and green around; they kept emptying the site day by day…Those wonderful bright yellow-orange “balls” you see up there are nothing but the seed-cobs of the Pinos and Oyamel trees now, not Monarch clusters anymore!”

Down alongside the main stream, a few hundred monarchs were warming in the beautiful morning sun before take-off.

Evelyn also pointed out the regrowth already occuring Oyamel tres. This restoration, reforestation is critical for the Monarchs who overwinter in this área. The local communities will reinforce these natural restoration efforts.

Already monarchs have started breeding and laying eggs in the north assuring us the Monarch life cycle will continue.

It is now important fo rus all to join hands, here in the south, and in the north to  devote every single possible effort on habitat restoration, conservation, and education activity. If we do all that we can do, we shall preserve Monarchs. The world is watching and expecting the best from al lof us.

Until next November!

Estela Romero

Angangueo, Michoacán, México, March 25, 2020