The first monarch butterfly undertaking the species’ annual northern migration, has made it to Michigan. That’s according to the Journey North Program, which said the first reported sighting in the state came on April 23 in St. Clair Shores.
The Journey North Program allows the public to participate in community science and report sightings of monarchs, hummingbirds, and other migratory species.
The monarch migration is a yearly phenomenon. The eastern population of North America’s monarchs overwinters in mountains in central Mexico each year from October to late March before returning north. Monarch butterflies are not considered an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act; however, they were proposed to be included on the list in 2024 and their declining population keeps them at risk for extinction…