The Monarch Grove Sanctuary is an urban nature preserve in Pacific Grove, California. It protects the monarch butterflies that winter in Pacific Grove arriving in October. It is maintained by a volunteer crew.[2] About 12–16,000 butterflies stayed at the sanctuary during the 2022-23 winter, making it the fourth largest of its type in California.[3]
| Monarch Grove Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 A monarch butterfly at the sanctuary | |
   | |
| Location | 250 Ridge Rd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 |
| Coordinates | 36°37′35″N 121°55′51″W / 36.6264°N 121.9307°W |
| Area | 2.696 acres (1.091 ha)[1] |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | City of Pacific Grove |
History
editThe land on which the sanctuary exists was first owned by Del Monte Hotel Management. It was then purchased by a local woman named Edna Dively to operate the Butterfly Grove Inn, which is still in operation. When plans for land development were made, local nature group leaders, led by Ro Vaccaro, stepped up to stop it from happening. Pacific Grove's citizens voted to create a tax to establish the sanctuary, in 1990, as a part of Measure G, City of Pacific Grove Butterfly Habitat and Bond Measure.[2] The city was able to collaborate with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to go through with the purchase of the land, finalizing the acquisition in 1992.[4] In 2004, a branch above the parking lot fell on Anne Dickinson Thomas, killing her. Her family sued for wrongful death against the city in 2006.[1]
Description
editMonarchs that winter at Monarch Grove Sanctuary live up to six months after reaching adulthood, in opposition to most other monarchs, which only live for four to five weeks. Touching the butterflies will result in a $1000 fine.[5] The sanctuary contains pine, cypress, oaks, coast redwood, and eucalyptus trees.[2] Planet species include Monterey pine and Monterey cypress. Most of the monarchs are clustered around a "very dense" group of blue gum eucalyptus trees planted in 1917.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b Fadiman, Dorothy; McKenzie, Marlo. "Butterfly Town, USA Documentary Film Project (Concentric Media) - Home Page". Butterfly Town, USA. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Monarch Grove Sanctuary". City of Pacific Grove. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Weiss, Stuart B. "Assessment and proposed management activities Monarch Grove Sanctuary and George Washington Park for 2023" (PDF). Creekside Science. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Fadiman, Dorothy; McKenzie, Marlo (March 25, 2015). "A Brief History of Pacific Grove's Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary". Vimeo. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Visit Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary in Monterey County!". See Monterey. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Gho, Daniel (June 6, 2018). "Agenda Report" (PDF). Revize. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.