The monarch butterfly's migratory journey from Canada —through Oregon — to Mexico is a breeze compared with the federal government's lengthy process to protect the dwindling species. Why it matters: The monarch's population has declined more than 80% since the 1990s,

The Trump administration is reopening public comment on a proposed rule that would list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

What sounded like leaves rustling in the wind was the flickering wings of thousands of monarch butterflies as they flitted through the oyamel fir forest. I opened my eyes and sat on the forest floor,