Figures released by conservationists say that, back in the 1990s, the US was home to about 1 billion monarch butterflies. These days, however, just 35 million are believed to still roam the country.

Hence, in the months to come, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is to take the time and try to determine whether or not monarch butterflies should be labeled a threatened or endangered species and granted legal protection.

The entire conundrum began back in August 2014, when an online petition pointed the finger at genetically modified crops growing in the country's Midwest as the culprit for the impressive drop in the US' monarch butterfly population.

Some time after the petition was launched, officials with the country's Fish and Wildlife Service decided that it was well worthy of their attention and earlier this week announced their decision to review the species' status.

It is understood that the Fish and Wildlife Service is ready and willing to accept public comments on this initiative until this coming March 2.

For those unaware, monarch butterflies are (or, better said, used to be) a common sight in North America. They can grow to have a wingspan of about 9 to 10 centimeters (3.5 to 4 inches) and cover impressive distances when migrating.

Should the US Fish and Wildlife Service find the monarch butterfly to be an endangered or a threatened species, lawmakers will have to implement measures to safeguard their natural habitats.