To get to the numbers of monarch butterflies that showed up in the west around Thanksgiving last year, take the previous year's number and multiply by about 123.
It's true; the distressingly low figure of monarchs from a year ago has been wiped off the board. Close to a quarter-million butterflies showed up for the annual migration in California and Arizona, fending off--for now--fears of a collapse of the species.
This does not count as a full recovery, not by a long shot. Portland-based Xerces Society keeps a close eye on the numbers.
Emma Pelton, Western Monarch Lead at Xerces, is our guest once again.