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Monarch butterflies generally start arriving in October, with a peak season between November - January. Monarchs begin departing in February.

The Western monarch butterfly is found across coastal California in the winter.

In Monterey County, the largest population of overwintering monarch butterflies can typically be found at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary at 250 Ridge Road, Pacific Grove CA 93950. For more information about the Monarch Sanctuary, including hours, parking, pet policy, and the latest monarch count, visit www.pgmuseum.org/monarchs.

Other popular overwintering sites are Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, and the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove just south of San Luis Obispo.

The latest butterfly counts can be found online at www.pgmuseum.org/monarchs. This page gets updated weekly while monarch butterflies are in Pacific Grove.

The best time of day depends on what you want to see:

Clusters

You’ll see cascades of monarchs on the lace lichen of the Monterey pines or Monterey cypresses, or perhaps in the eucalyptus trees. The monarchs are most often clustering when the temperature is below 55O F, in the morning or on overcast days. Don't worry that the monarchs aren't moving in their clusters. They are conserving energy, and this is both normal and healthy behavior.

In flight

Monarchs can only fly when the temperature is above 55O F. To see the monarchs in flight, either come in the later parts of the day or on a warmer, sunny day.

Monarch butterflies cluster, or hang, from trees in the Sanctuary. At first glance, monarch clusters look like small pinecones or faded leaves. Look for the triangular shapes and stripes of the monarch wings. Monarchs do not return to the same tree every night, nor even the same type of tree. In addition to choosing different trees to rest in each night, monarch activity changes with temperature, wind, and sunlight levels. That’s what makes the Monarch Sanctuary special: each day is a unique experience.