In all the world, no butterflies migrate like the monarchs of North America.

The
y travel up to three-thousand miles twice a year: south in the fall and north in
the spring. To avoid the long, cold northern winters, monarchs west of the Rock
y Mountains winter along the California coast. Those east of the Rockies fly sou
th to the mountain forests of Mexico. Unlike migrating birds and whales, however
, individual monarchs only make the round-trip once. It is their great-grandchil
dren that return south the following fall.The Monarch butterfly is one the most
readily recognized and beloved insects in North America. With its vivid orange
and black markings and often bold behavior around people, it seldom fails to cre
ate a smile on the face of an those who see it. Some butterflies are very specif
ic about where they lay their eggs. Monarchs will only lay their eggs on milkwee
ds. Milkweeds contain a potent heart poison, which helps to protect them from br
owsing animals and leaf-eating insects such grasshoppers. Monarchs are able to s
tore this poison within their own bodies, making themselves poisonous in turn.