MONARCH BUTTERFLY

Three monarch butterflies that were tagged in San Antonio and Central Texas last fall to honor deceased loved ones have been recovered in Mexico.

In recent years butterfly populations have seen a decline but you can help save them — for free.

Researchers are calling on the public to report monarch butterfly sightings in eight southern and Gulf states.

One organization takes part in tagging and releasing hundreds of monarchs to track the numbers and said you can think of San Antonio as a hospitality center for the butterflies.

Monarch butterflies are beginning to migrate through the Lone Star State, which has many native plants that can feed them on their journey.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will launching the long-awaited Monarch Butterfly conservation license plate on Monday, June 21.

New monarch butterfly conservation license plates will be available to Texas motorists starting Monday.

At the end of 2020, the Xerces Society published a study that said the Western Monarch Butterfly population reached an all-time low. The society says effects of climate change, most notably the historic string of wildfires along the Pacific Coast, have been the main force in the destruction of the Western Monarch Butterfly population. AdTreviño-Wright said the decline in the monarch butterfly species has not been as bad east of the Rocky Mountains, but there are still threats to the insects. But, she says there are ways you can help restore butterfly populations in your own backyard, such as planting native species. KSAT and the National Butterfly Center want to answer any questions you may have about butterflies in Texas.

The Bat Man of Mexico will be descending on this years Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival. His work earned him the Bat Man nickname from famed naturalist David Attenborough, who narrated a BBC documentary on Medelln and his work. The panel is part of the 2019 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival, which runs from Oct. 12 to Oct. 20. Next time you raise your glass of tequila or mezcal, celebrating whatever you want to celebrate, please first and foremost toast the bats, Medelln said. This article has been updated to correct that the free screening of The Bat Man of Mexico will take place at UNAM San Antonios auditorium.