Southern Oregon is a critical “stepping stone” for western monarchs as they migrate northward from the California overwintering sites each Spring.  And much of the rest of our state provides native milkweed and nectar-bearing plants to sustain them as they continue their amazing annual journey northward.  Likewise, it is one of the last rest stops as they return southward each fall.  We appreciate all of the concern and restoration work being done by our state neighbors; we’re doing our best to provide a safe haven as the monarchs arrive to reproduce and fuel up!

Our many advocacy groups that have grown and joined together also work directly with each of the agencies and organizations shown at the bottom of each page.  Restoration efforts range from residential and community scale Monarch Waystations, to new habitat on golf courses and utility rights of way, to large-scale restoration on public and private lands out in the wild.  This provides an interconnected "Monarch Highway” through our state.  We also have been participating with the western monarch tagging research for many years, and are proud to have helped our researchers learn where, when, and how monarchs move through the west.

The three native milkweed species here in Oregon are very important to our monarchs each season.  There is currently a collaboration of agencies and groups to grow and produce local native milkweed for seed and seedlings for use on public and private lands throughout the state.  We also see the incredible importance of outreach - now more than ever!  Classroom talks, “virtual” presentations, the 2020 Western Monarch Summit, 100s of presentations throughout the west, planting work parties, and City festivals; these activities occur all over our state!