In the article, “Can We Save Monarch Butterflies?” (Upfront, October 10, 2022 subscription required) I learned that monarch butterflies are at the point of being extinct. The percentage of monarch butterflies dropped to 84% from 1996 to 2014. Scientists say it is because of climate change, an increase in certain substances that are toxic to them, and habitat destruction. Endangering may seem like a bad thing for them but it is boosting them. People have started to plant milkweed, food monarch caterpillars eat to help increase their population and help keep them alive.
What do you think we should do about Monarch Butterflies almost being extinct?I think what is happening to monarch butterflies is very tragic. Although there could be hope for them in the future, it is very unlikely they’ll survive. It is very tragic because they are very important to the environment. Without them, we would not have blueberries and squash for food. Birds would also lose them as a food source, as well as humans losing their food sources too.
Dear Karen,
I am shocked by your post, “Can We Save Monarch Butterflies” because I have been hearing about monarch butterflies being endangered for many years now, so I am shocked that nothing has gotten better. I was also not expecting such a big drop in the population because 84% in just 26 years seems like a very huge drop.
It is disappointing to think that they are on the verge of extinction because they are something so familiar to many people and it would be crazy to think of a world without monarch butterflies. It is saddening that the main cause for them going endangered is because of factors caused by humans but it is a good thing that there are some people taking steps to try and help keep the species alive.
Thank you for your writing. I think it is very important that more people talk about how important monarch butterflies are to the environment.
Dear Karen:
I am intrigued by your post, “Can We Save Monarch Butterflies?,” because I did not know monarch butterflies are in danger of extinction. Especially the cause of climate change being the reason why they are in danger. Climate change should be something people need to talk about more because it causes lots of harm to our Earth. They need to learn that climate change doesn’t just affect the weather and animals but also insects. The weather can directly harm those insects by destroying their habitat.
One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is: “I think what is happening to monarch butterflies is very tragic ” I think this is agreeable because I also believe that what is happening to them is awful. If Monarch butterflies are very important to our environment then there should be something done to keep them alive.
Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next, because I love butterflies and want to know more about them. Hope to learn more about what happens to them in the long run.
Ruby
Dear, Karen in your post, “Can we save monarch butterflies?” I like how out of everything you choose a butterfly to talk about and how it can be effective. I didn’t know that butterflies were almost being extinct, which is very sad since they’re very beautiful. how they are dying because of climate change and how toxic life is getting for them.
One sentence that stood out to me was “The percentage of monarch butterflies dropped to 84% from 1996 to 2014.” which is very sad because that’s a big percentage from back then to now, just because of how toxic this world is getting they aren’t able to survive for a long time. but not only affects them but food sources for birds because without them we would not have blueberries and squash for food.
Question: Something we can do to help prevent butterflies from almost being extinct is that she said that people have started to plant milkweed, food monarch caterpillars eat to help increase their population and help keep them alive.
Thank you for writing, this was very interesting to read and good for people to know about butterflies and help them by having a better climate change to help prevent them from going extinct to stop the population from rising.