Dear Journey North community,

According to newly released data, the population of monarch butterflies in Mexico wintering sites decreased by 26 percent. On February 25, 2021, the World Wildlife Fund-Telmex Telcel Foundation Alliance, in collaboration with the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), released data from the winter 2020–21 monarch butterfly population counts.

Mr. Pato Moreno, Macheros, Donato Guerra, State of Mexico, Mexico

In 1986, the Cerro Pelon Sanctuary became part of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a federal agency. Despite this change, the State of Mexico-employed rangers continued their patrols, and when the first generation of rangers retired in 2014, their sons took over their jobs, including Mr. Pato Moreno. Apart from his job as a CEPANAF forest ranger, Mr.