Article content

One of nature’s greatest migrations may be returning to health after a stunning growth in the number of monarch butterflies that fluttered across North America last year.

But if populations of the striking black-and-orange aviators are starting to recover, it’s no thanks to Canada, said Carolyn Callaghan of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or U.S., Mexico surpass Canada in efforts to restore monarch butterfly habitat Back to video

“Canada, well, hmm. Not so much going on.”

Canadian wildlife officials dispute that. They say the species is considered a priority and $14 million has been spent since 2012 on the butterflies.

Every year, the main population of monarchs numbering in the tens of millions migrates from Canada and the United States to overwinter in Mexico. That’s a journey of more than 5,000 kilometres undertaken by tiny creatures weighing less than a gram.

In recent years, the number of monarchs making the flight plummeted by about 90 per cent from historic numbers, Callaghan said.