When Will Monarch Butterflies Appear in Michigan This Spring?

Their journey will include a stop right here in Michigan as these majestic monarchs begin their trek up north.

A 3,000 mile trip would take a lot out of anyone, especially a tiny butterfly! No wonder they need a break to rest. Here's how to catch a glimpse of the brightly colored butterflies during their pit stop in the Mitten.

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Monarchs in Michigan

Each spring thousands of monarch butterflies travel from their winter home down in Mexico up to places like Michigan and Canada where they will stay for the warmer summer months. In 2024 monarchs were spotted moving through Michigan earlier in the season than usual however the number of butterflies migrating was lower.

According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation while it is impossible to accurately determine how many monarch move through Michigan one thing is for certain: monarch numbers are dwindling.

researchers and citizen scientists estimate that only a fraction of the population remains, monarchs have declined by more than 80% since the 1990s from central Mexico, and by more than 95% since the 1980s in coastal California.

 

Researchers say threats to habitat including pesticide use, logging and development, and climate change are to blame for the monarch's decline.

When and Where to See Monarchs

The State of Michigan says monarchs can be found in Michigan anytime from late spring through early fall. While it's possible to spot monarchs in mid-April we will most likely start to see them arrive in early May. Monarchs become active as the sun warms the air; the best time of day to see them is at dawn or just before sunset.

The butterflies' annual visit to northern Michigan allows them to rest before their big journey over the expansive waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan typically stopping in the Stonington Peninsula in the cedar trees and lands surrounding the Peninsula Point Lighthouse.

Follow the annual spring monarch migration map here.