Nate Rott

Emily, do we know anything about anything? True. True.

Emily, do we know anything about anything? True. True.

You know, I asked Emma Pelton, an endangered species biologist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which is like one of the groups that's been pushing for a listing, that very question. And here was her response.

You know, I asked Emma Pelton, an endangered species biologist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which is like one of the groups that's been pushing for a listing, that very question. And here was her response.

You know, I asked Emma Pelton, an endangered species biologist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which is like one of the groups that's been pushing for a listing, that very question. And here was her response.

So this is where I think it gets really interesting. Emma wants and thinks the science supports the monarch butterfly being listed as threatened, not endangered.

So this is where I think it gets really interesting. Emma wants and thinks the science supports the monarch butterfly being listed as threatened, not endangered.

So this is where I think it gets really interesting. Emma wants and thinks the science supports the monarch butterfly being listed as threatened, not endangered.

And that distinction between threatened and endangered is really important. Because a species that gets listed as endangered in the U.S. gets all of the protections of the Endangered Species Act. It gets everything it has to offer. Like, you cannot kill monarch butterflies. You cannot mess with them.

And that distinction between threatened and endangered is really important. Because a species that gets listed as endangered in the U.S. gets all of the protections of the Endangered Species Act. It gets everything it has to offer. Like, you cannot kill monarch butterflies. You cannot mess with them.

And that distinction between threatened and endangered is really important. Because a species that gets listed as endangered in the U.S. gets all of the protections of the Endangered Species Act. It gets everything it has to offer. Like, you cannot kill monarch butterflies. You cannot mess with them.

So it depends. In some cases, depending on what they rule, you could. I don't want to get too far down the technical wonky path of environmental law because I don't think anyone wants to go down that path. But if a species is listed as threatened, there's more wiggle room. There can be carve-outs and protections to accommodate for the people that are going to have to interact with that animal.

So it depends. In some cases, depending on what they rule, you could. I don't want to get too far down the technical wonky path of environmental law because I don't think anyone wants to go down that path. But if a species is listed as threatened, there's more wiggle room. There can be carve-outs and protections to accommodate for the people that are going to have to interact with that animal.

So it depends. In some cases, depending on what they rule, you could. I don't want to get too far down the technical wonky path of environmental law because I don't think anyone wants to go down that path. But if a species is listed as threatened, there's more wiggle room. There can be carve-outs and protections to accommodate for the people that are going to have to interact with that animal.

They could say, like, it's not illegal to raise monarchs in captivity or for somebody to touch one. They could exempt those kinds of activities. And Emma thinks that they honestly should.

They could say, like, it's not illegal to raise monarchs in captivity or for somebody to touch one. They could exempt those kinds of activities. And Emma thinks that they honestly should.

They could say, like, it's not illegal to raise monarchs in captivity or for somebody to touch one. They could exempt those kinds of activities. And Emma thinks that they honestly should.

Totally. And presumably you'd want to give people some more flexibility around them because, you know, like we've been saying, the monarch's habitat is the better part of the North American continent. So at least for part of the year, right? Like when they're migrating through.

Totally. And presumably you'd want to give people some more flexibility around them because, you know, like we've been saying, the monarch's habitat is the better part of the North American continent. So at least for part of the year, right? Like when they're migrating through.

Totally. And presumably you'd want to give people some more flexibility around them because, you know, like we've been saying, the monarch's habitat is the better part of the North American continent. So at least for part of the year, right? Like when they're migrating through.