Environment

Video: Monarch butterfly numbers rebound along Monterey coast

By Darren Peck

December 18, 2022 / 7:12 PM PST / CBS San Francisco

Monarch butterfly numbers rebound along Monterey coast

PACIFIC GROVE -- Early reports point to another hopeful year for threatened monarch butterflies in Northern California.

After nearing the brink of extinction in 2020, this marks the second year in a row that monarch butterfly numbers have improved.

The winter count takes place in the monarch hibernation groves along the California coast. KPIX meteorologist Darren Peck visited the Monarch Butterly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove to get an early look at how the count is shaping up.

Monarch Butterfly

Darren Peck

Darren is no stranger to forecasting Northern California weather. Before joining KPIX 5, Darren forecast weather at KING 5 in Seattle. He spent seven years prior to that as weekday meteorologist in Sacramento forecasting for FOX40 News. His more than 20 years in the business also includes stops at KVVU FOX 5 in Las Vegas, Orange County NewsChannel and his very first job at KNAZ-TV in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Twitter Facebook