The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the reopening of the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

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 splashy monarch butterfly only lives about five weeks, but its entire survival is in question due to threats posed by development and pesticides.