Wildlife Conservation

Wild Monarch Texas Migration Corridor

The Texas hill country serves as a critical migration funnel for monarch butterflies moving between breeding grounds and Mexican overwintering sites.

Key Facts

Over 90 percent of monarchs pass through Texas during fall migration
Texas milkweed and nectar plants are critical migration fuel sources
Urban and suburban Texas plantings significantly supplement natural habitat
Herbicide drift from agricultural land reduces available milkweed

Welfare Considerations

Monarchs completing migration rely on nectar plants in the Texas corridor to accumulate fat reserves for the final leg to Mexico. Insufficient resources force monarchs to attempt the final stretch under-fueled, reducing survival probability. Individual butterflies experiencing navigational challenges in a landscape depleted of resources suffer high mortality during an energetically demanding journey.

What You Can Do

Plant native Texas milkweed and nectar plants if in the region
Support monarch way-station certification programs
Advocate against herbicide use on roadside native plant communities
Donate to Texas milkweed restoration programs