Western Monarch Mystery Challenge

Scientists know that migratory monarchs spend winter months in groves along the California coast and that wild monarchs are breeding in central California by May. However, much less is known about where monarchs are in February, March and April. This gap is critical to understanding where and when to focus conservation efforts.

Solving the mystery of where wild, migratory western monarchs are at this time of year is a way for Californians to make a contribution to conserving and restoring the monarch migration in the West. (Note: Reared monarchs are not part of this study.)

Lilianne de la Espriella, WSU communications coordinator, 561-929-7764, monarchmystery@wsu.edu

Cheryl Schultz, professor, WSU School of Biological Sciences, schultzc@wsu.edu