Just a few years ago, the eastern monarch was considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature after populations decreased over 80% in the last thirty years. The species may be beginning to rebound, though, and last year, the butterfly occupied almost twice as much forest habitat.

This year’s count of 4.42 acres of occupied forest habitat is nearly twice as large as last year's, but eastern monarch butterfly populations remain far below the long-term average. The 2024 figures fell 59% from 2023 to the second lowest level since record keeping began.