PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. — Monarch butterfly numbers in Pacific Grove have drastically decreased this season, causing concern among scientists and conservationists.

PACIFIC GROVE — Monarch butterfly numbers are down this year entering prime counting season, but experts aren’t panicking yet. “Butterfly populations are bouncy,” said Isis Howard, an ...

According to the most recent count on Nov. 14, there were 10,920 monarch butterflies counted throughout all Ellwood sites, and 3,437 were counted in the main grove.

As of Thursday, State Parks had counted only 406 butterflies in the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove — which is an unusually low number even this early in the season.

Monarch Sanctuary Count 2022-2023 (Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History) During last year’s Thanksgiving count, the museum counted 14,025 butterflies at the sanctuary.

FILE - Thousands of monarch butterflies gather in the eucalyptus trees at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove as viewed on Jan. 17, 2018, in Pismo Beach, Calif.

Monarch butterfly numbers in Pacific Grove have drastically decreased this season, causing concern among scientists and conservationists. The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History reports low ...

“Overwintering monarch populations have declined more in Ellwood than in other known aggregation sites. We believe this is due to degrading forest habitat,” Goleta’s website said. Up at Monterey’s ...

The Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is one of five in the state that routinely records 10,000 or more of the butterflies in residence. But what makes this Central Coast destination special ...

A monarch butterfly suns itself on a eucalyptus branch in the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove on Dec. 9, 2022. More than 129,000 western monarch butterflies were counted in San Luis Obispo ...

Wojciech Poreba inspects milkweed at Hamlet Park in Cottage Grove while looking for monarch butterfly eggs Wednesday afternoon Aug. 7, 2024. (Devanie Andre / Pioneer Press) ...