The varied and beautiful butterfly species that dot the West are being cut down by the climate crisis, new research has found, with rising temperatures helping cause a steep decline in butterfly numbers over the past 40 years. There has been a 1.6% reduction in the total number of butterflies observed west of the Rocky Mountain range each year since 1977, researchers calculated, which amounts to a staggering loss of butterflies over the timespan of the study period.“Certainly many butterfly species are becoming so rare it’s hard for some people to see what were once widespread, common species.” “With the monarch it seems we are on the verge of losing the migration, if not the species itself.” To view the full article visit High Country News.
