Migrating Monarchs: A Natural Phenomenon Visible in Cleveland
Every year during the beginning of fall, millions of monarch butterflies travel roughly 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico for the wintertime. The monarchs are in search of overwintering ground, which can be found in the central/southwestern Mexico mountains on oyamel fir trees, where they group together and use the tree canopy as a blanket.
But unlike birds, these monarchs don’t return to where they came from. They’ll only return part of the way to warmer climates such as the southern United States. There they’ll mate and lay eggs which will eventually grow and continue the journey back north, where they will repeat the process many times before the newer generations reach Canada again.
Come fall time again, the monarchs that are ready to head south for some reason have a longer life span than the others before them, which allow them to make the journey back to Mexico with the help of south blowing winds.
Probably the hardest part of their journey is the trek across Lake Erie, with nowhere to stop until they reach Cleveland. Strong southern winds or heavy rain can deter the monarchs from their goal, not to mention they get hungry and tired. When this happens, they find refuge along the wooded areas near Cleveland, where they’ll stay for a few days to bunker down, rest up, and eat before continuing on their journey.
During the month of September, and sometimes into early October, thousands of monarchs can be seen here in Cleveland. The best time to see hundreds of monarchs at once is shortly after heavy rainfall; otherwise, you may only see a handful of them in the early morning. Depending on the weather, they may stay for a few hours to a few days.
Spotting the monarchs in the cottonwoods isn’t too difficult; simply look up and you’ll see them. Keep in mind they can blend in if there’s dead leaves of the trees. Sometimes you can find them inside the wooded area, but they tend to be on the outskirts of the tree line. You can also find them in prairies or in bushes.
You’re able to see monarchs all over Ohio during their journey, however, as they need to frequently replenish their energy reserves at stop-over areas.
Where to see the monarchs in Cleveland
Whiskey Island & Wendy Park
Euclid Beach Park
Huntington, Brecksville & Acacia Reservations
Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
While the monarch is extremely common, it is still an important pollinator since it does so much migrating. Despite being toxic to most predators, there are still some critters that can call the monarch food. So if you’re viewing the monarchs, please don’t bother them.
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