Monarchs rely on milkweed

Monarchs are one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world; I always feel very lucky whenever I happen to spot one. In this episode of California’s Gold, Huell visits a popular monarch grove on the Central California coast during February and talks with a number of people who are delighted to have these special visitors brighten up the winter months. I was especially surprised to see the way the volunteers handle the butterflies without causing them any harm!

Every year hundreds of thousands of Monarchs fly as much as two thousandmiles to reach safe overwintering sites along California’s central coast. They can fly up to one hundred miles a day at an altitude of up to ten thousand feet.What’s amazing is that none of the butterflies that make this amazing journey have ever been here before. The butterflies have nothing but instinct to guidethem. Huell gets a special tour of this wonderful site from a Park Ranger, docents and a class from Cal Poly who studies the Monarchs. It’s a feast for the eyes.

(Click on the linked image below to see the video.)