Listen to the Podcast Episode San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer joined hundreds of other U.S. mayors when he signed the Mayors Monarch Pledge. Signing the pledge commits the city to take action to help the endangered butterfly. Aired: January 14, 2020 | Transcript

Monarch butterflies in the west are in serious trouble. Their population has declined by 99% since the 1980s. But the city of San Diego is now committed to helping the beautiful orange and black butterflies make a comeback.



San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has signed the Mayors Monarch Pledge — a creation of the National Wildlife Federation. The pledge means the city will take a number of actions, including planting milkweed and other plants that Monarchs need to survive. It also means the city will actively encourage residents to do the same in their own yards.

RELATED: San Diego's Native Hermes Copper Butterfly Proposed For Endangered Species List

Patrick Fitzgerald, with the National Wildlife Federation, joined Midday Edition on Tuesday to discuss the effort to restore the Monarch butterfly.

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