Millions Of Monarch Butterflies Are Headed Straight For Arkansas This Spring

Millions of monarch butterflies will leave the mountains of Mexico and are migrating through Arkansas this spring. Within the past few years, this monarch migration in Arkansas has been the biggest it has been in decades. It is estimated that millions of monarch butterflies will make an appearance, and we can’t wait to see these beautiful creatures. Let’s get outside to see these gorgeous monarch butterflies in Arkansas this year! It’s a spectacular nature show!

If you’re wondering when is the best time to see monarch butterflies in Arkansas, we’ve got the answer for you. This spring, millions of monarch butterflies will be fluttering through Arkansas. The butterfly population is significantly higher than in previous years.

The current migration is just one of the swells of monarchs Arkansas will see this year. This first monarch surge is from the new year's generation of butterflies from Mexico. These butterflies will continue north and lay eggs for the second generation. The fourth generation will be the next big swell to look forward to in early fall. This gen will hold off on laying eggs until they've returned to Mexico, which means they'll have a much longer lifespan (up to eight months).

Photography isn't the only way to participate in this year's migration. An easy way to aid the countless butterflies is to plant milkweed, their favorite plant for laying eggs and providing caterpillar food. In addition to working on your backyard garden, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission has another way to help. Any time you see a monarch you can log in at the iNaturalist website. The mapping project offers insightful research to a number of studies. The AGFC is using it to see the positive butterfly effects of native prairie restoration.

Between late March to early April would be a wonderful time to go outside and spot some butterflies! So, be sure to mark your calendar for this upcoming nature show. A rather magical place to visit is Fayetteville’s Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. The garden has the state’s only butterfly house, which you can read more about in our previous article about the Botanical Garden. State parks often host different butterfly events throughout the season. No matter if you plan a weekend getaway to one of our national forests or just take more time to sit in your backyard, the monarch migration is a treasured sight to see.

Now that you know the best time to see monarch butterflies, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the arrival of these lovely creatures this spring. Also, if you would like to start your own butterfly garden, check out this website featuring some of the necessary gardening supplies.

If you'd like to immerse yourself in breathtaking nature while you look for monarch butterflies in Arkansas, you should try one of spring hikes in Arkansas.