> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # TELL THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE TO PROTECT THE THREATENED MONARCH BUTTERFLY - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/tell_the_u_s_fish_wildlife_service_0205150101/ - Published: 2015-02-05T14:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:22:01.000Z - Description: The Center for Food Safety asks readers to comment by March 2 in support of Endangered Species Act protection for the monarch butterfly. Its report blames herbicides like Roundup, used on genetically engineered crops, for destroying milkweed, the only plant monarch caterpillars eat. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Politics, #vivvo-import Monarch butterflies are one of the most beautiful and iconic insects in the world, but**the use of herbicides like Monsanto’s Roundup** on genetically engineered crops is destroying a significant portion of their breeding habitat in North America, sending monarch populations into a tailspin, **as detailed in Center for Food Safety’s landmark new report, *Monarchs in Peril*.** This grave threat to monarchs led CFS and our allies to file **a groundbreaking legal action to list monarchs as a threatened species** under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). [**Now the agency has a public comment period open through March 2nd on whether to list the monarch butterfly under the ESA.**](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=J9ZGQiE9%2F7AduzGE4ZvF1eAG6dI%2BUbXM&ref=foodconsumer.org) The FWS has already agreed with us that monarchs are in trouble. **In December, the FWS announced that protection may be warranted for the monarch and is now conducting a one-year review of its status** in response to our legal filing. We all know that Monsanto’s genetically engineered crops and the pesticides they promote can wreak havoc on our farms, our food, and our environment. But what many people don’t know is that they are also playing a big role in the rapid disappearance of monarchs. **Herbicides like Roundup don’t kill monarchs directly, but rather kill their primary food source and habitat.** Milkweeds are critical to the monarch’s survival because they are the only plants monarch caterpillars will eat. But thanks to the rampant use of Roundup on Monsanto’s genetically engineered crops, milkweed plants in the heart of the monarch’s breeding habitat have been demolished. **Fewer milkweeds mean fewer Monarchs.** [**So we are faced with a historic choice: Do we want Monsanto or monarchs? It is becoming increasingly clear that we cannot have both.** ](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=31J3mMdi9APN8qNHKOs8weAG6dI%2BUbXM&ref=foodconsumer.org) To protect monarchs we must protect and reclaim their critical habitat, and reject Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GE crops, and the unsustainable, pesticide-intensive, industrial agriculture system promoted by them. Though there are some good voluntary programs to restore milkweeds and protect monarchs, there are no mandatory regulations that adequately protect the monarch butterfly. **If listed under the ESA, the U.S. government would be required to take urgent and significant action to protect monarchs from further declines.** [**Help us save monarchs before it’s too late!**](http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=M8XU%2Fe2oR69zTcKtvwOrReAG6dI%2BUbXM&ref=foodconsumer.org) Thanks for everything you do, Center for Food Safety \---------------------------- More Information: Center for Food Safety, [Monarchs in Peril – Executive Summary](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/monarch%5Fes%5F82936.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org) Center for Food Safety, [Monarchs in Peril – Full Report](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/cfs-monarch-report%5F2-4-15%5Fdesign%5F05341.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org) Center for Food Safety, [Monarchs in Peril – Quick Facts](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/monarchs-in-peril-one-pager--copy%5F82788.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org) Center for Food Safety, Center for Biological Diversity: [Petition to Protect The Monarch Butterfly (Danus Plexippus Plexippus) Under the Endangered Species Ac](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/monarch-esa-petition-final%5F61585.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org)t (8/27/14) Center for Food Safety, Center for Biological Diversity: [FAQs on the Monarch Butterfly Endangered Species Act Petition](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/fact-sheets/3419/faqs-on-the-monarch-butterfly-endangered-species-act-petition?ref=foodconsumer.org) (8/27/14) Center for Food Safety, [Monarchs & Pesticides](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/304/pollinators-and-pesticides/about-monarchs-and-pesticides?ref=foodconsumer.org); [Monarch Decline & GE Crops](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/304/pollinators-and-pesticides/monarch-decline-and-ge-crops?ref=foodconsumer.org) Center for Food Safety, [Monarch Breeding & Glyphosate Use Maps](http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/monarchmaps2%5F20417.pdf?ref=foodconsumer.org)