Monarch butterflies are now on Canada’s endangered species list

The monarch butterflies aren't alone, either. Two subspecies of western bumblebee are being classified as threatened as well.

Monarch butterflies, known for their distinct orange and black wing markings, have been added to the endangered list, under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA).

This is an up-listing from their previous status of special concern.

“It underscores the pressures that we’re seeing here in Canada in terms of habitat loss, climate change, lack of milkweed that the monarchs are facing,” Nature Conservancy of Canada spokesperson Andrew Holland told Global News.

Milkweed is a pink wildflower essential for monarch butterflies, serving as a primary food source and place to lay their eggs.

These iconic butterflies were first listed as endangered in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2016. The Environment Ministry takes COSEWIC designation into consideration when determining formal designation under SARA.

This designation under SARA gives endangered or threatened species additional protection on federal lands, making it an offence to kill, harm or damage a species residence.

The government is also mandated to establish recovery strategies and an action plan for these species by working with provinces, First Nations, municipalities and conservation groups.

However, Holland points out that the International Union of Nature Conservation recently improved its listing of monarch butterflies from endangered to vulnerable.