The current international news is not good:

Monarch Population Status

http://monarchwatch.org/blog/
14 March 2013 | Author: Chip Taylor

"All in all, it was not a good year for monarchs.
The good news is that we can do something about the habitats in the United States and Canada – we can plant milkweed. That said, in order to compensate for the continued loss of habitat we need to plant LOTS AND LOTS of milkweed. To assure a future for monarchs, conservation and restoration of milkweeds needs to become a national priority."

Monarch Migration Plunges to Lowest Level in Decades

By MICHAEL WINES Published: March 13, 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/science/earth/monarch-migration-plunges-to-lowest-level-in-decades.html?_r=1&

"The latest decline was hastened by drought and record-breaking heat in North America when the monarchs arrived last spring to reproduce. Warmer than usual conditions led the insects to arrive early and to nest farther north than is typical, Chip Taylor, director of the conservation group Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas, said in an interview

The American Midwest’s corn belt is a critical feeding ground for monarchs, which once found a ready source of milkweed growing between the rows of millions of acres of soybean and corn. But the ubiquitous use of herbicide-tolerant crops has enabled farmers to wipe out the milkweed, and with it much of the butterflies’ food supply.

“That habitat is virtually gone. We’ve lost well over 120 million acres, and probably closer to 150 million acres,” Mr. Taylor said."

“The population is probably only 50 percent of the long-term average,” Taylor said. “There’s no question the monarch population is going down. It’s the same old story we hear over and over — loss of habitat.”

                        – Chip Taylor

Monarch enthusiasts, brace yourselves!

2013 will be a new challenge on the County Grounds and The Monarch Trail. Construction has begun for the new roadway through the Grounds, the first building as well as the entire grading project for new tenants which will forever change the land.

While all of this is happening, the butterfly Habitat Area is undergoing intense restoration by UWM!  This will become the most beautiful part of their project and the best hope for the monarchs.

Access to the Butterfly Habitat will be limited throughout the 2013 season. We do not recommend recreational trail walks. For your safety and protection, please enter by following the construction fencing along Watertown Plank Road and west of the gated road. see map.

It is imperative that people respect the protective measures taken by the construction companies.  These fences and barriers are there to protect natural areas and you!

http://wauwatosa.net/DocumentCenter/View/2398

A volunteer work group will be helping in the restoration efforts. Eventually these restoration projects will contribute locally to the population of monarchs. A meeting to coordinate these efforts will be planned…..stay tuned…..