Monarch Population in California Spirals to Another Record Low By Emma Pelton on 30 November 2020
Emma Pelton
[Editor s note: This blog was revised on Friday, 12/11/20, to update the population estimates with new count data.]
Early count numbers from Xerces’ Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count suggest that the western migratory population is headed for an all-time low. With approximately 95% of the data in, only 1,800 monarchs have been reported. We anticipate a final total of less than 2,000 monarchs overwintering in California this year. This is a significant decline from the low numbers of the last two years where the total hovered just under 30,000 monarchs. These numbers are a tiny fraction of the millions of monarchs that likely visited overwintering sites in the 1980s and the hundreds of thousands of monarchs that graced California’s coast as recently as the mid-2010s. In fact, this represents an overall decline of more than
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Happy New Year to readers of The Wild.
Time to step into 2021, maybe by seeking out sunrise views in these places. Here are my picks for the best places to make tracks over the long holiday weekend while staying close to home.
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Mt. Hollywood, Griffith Park: This peak is good for a workout hike, day or night. By night, the ambient lights of the city are all you will need to find your way to the top. Depending on how clear the air is, you’ll see the observatory in the foreground and views of downtown L.A., Hollywood and Century City. A New Year’s Eve hike isn’t out of the question (no boozing it up), but remember that the park closes at 10 p.m. There are several routes to the top, the most direct 2½ miles uphill from the Griffith Observatory (though parking is difficult in that area). Check out our guide to Griffith Park for more details.
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One might assume that in California, which produces two-thirds of the nation’s fruits and nuts and more than one-third of its vegetables, folks would take the “insect apocalypse” seriously and work with the state to protect critical pollinators like bumblebees.
Unfortunately, while insects face a potentially unprecedented collapse, a California Superior Court ruled recently that insects are not covered by the state’s Endangered Species Act. That disturbing decision should promote state and federal action.
Among state-level endangered species laws, the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) is arguably the strongest. It was CESA’s protective measures that led environmental organizations to successfully petition to list four bumble bee species under the law in the first place.
At its December 9-10 meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources. The following are just a few items of interest from this week’s meeting.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) presented its annual report on the progress of its statewide Marine Protected Areas Program. The report highlighted research and monitoring efforts, outreach and education, enforcement and compliance statistics, policy, permitting and Tribal engagement.
The Commission voted to extend the recreational red abalone fishery closure sunset date by an additional five years to April 1, 2026.
The Commission adopted new regulations for the recreational crab fishery intended to provide additional whale and turtle protections. These changes will take effect at the start of next season scheduled for November 2021.
Western Monarch butterflies take an astonishing step closer to extinction tucsonsentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tucsonsentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.