Monarch butterflies begin annual migration across North America

Monarch butterflies are currently undergoing their annual migration across North America, traveling from southern Canada and the northern United States toward central Mexico. This journey can cover more than 2,000 miles as the insects move toward mountain forests for the winter.

The migration timeline typically sees the largest wave moving south through September and October. Residents in the Great Lakes and Northeast regions generally see monarchs in early to mid-September, while those in the Central U.S. and Mid-Atlantic observe them from mid to late September. By October, the migration reaches the Gulf Coast and Deep South, with many eastern monarchs arriving in central Mexico by late October or November.

Seasonal shifts in weather, including recent patterns of warmth followed by cooler, wetter autumn conditions, coincide with this period of biological activity and fall planting preparations.