Which sanctuaries do monarchs select? Pie chart and butterfly sanctuary map.

January 30, 2019: This winter's monarch colonies cover 15 acres (6.05 hectares) and contain an estimated 202 million butterflies. This map shows how the population is distributed.

Guiding Questions

  • How would you describe the distribution of monarchs in the winter sanctuaries?
  • What factors do you think might influence site selection?
  • Scientists can't predict which sanctuaries the monarchs will use in any particular year. How do you think distribution affects conservation decisions?