The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that monarch butterflies have been placed on the Endangered Species Act protections wait list.
The butterfly’s status will be reviewed annually until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adds them to the list or denies the proposal.
In the late 90s, more than 100,000 butterflies were reported in Pismo Beach. That number dropped to 12,000 in 2017.
In 2018, the population dipped even further to 3,000.
So far this winter, fewer than 2,000 have been counted in the annual census in California.
The best time to visit the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is now through the New Year.
