MADISON, Wis. (AP) — U.S. wildlife officials announced a decision Tuesday to extend federal protections to monarch butterflies after years of warnings from environmentalists that populations are shrinking and the beloved pollinator may not survive climate change. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to add the butterfly to the threatened species list by the end of next year following an extensive public comment period.

You've probably seen monarch butterflies, and maybe monarch caterpillars, but there's a lot to learn about the monarch life cycle.

Monarch butterflies are some of the most beautiful creatures. Like most people, you have watched them as they flew by or sat near you so you could get a look at their pattern. You might have chased them as a child in hopes of catching one. If you are fond of butterflies, think they are beautiful, or wonder how they get their patterns, you are not the only one. Scientists are right next to you, trying to find answers to the same questions. In fact, their studies go back over 20 years with tagging more than 1 million monarch butterflies so they could get answers about their behavior, patterns, and migration.

Not only are monarch butterflies beautiful, they're also important pollinators. To lead them into your garden, try planting this purple flowering tree.

Butterflies are beautiful to look at, but they also help plants grow. Planting milkweed is a good way to attract monarch butterfly pollinators to visit your garden. Research shows that the health of young monarch butterflies depends on having enough milkweed plants and good weather. As they mature, it’s more about how healthy the milkweed ... Read more