Monarch population up 144 pct at Mexico wintering grounds

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Experts say the population of monarch butterflies wintering in central Mexico is up 144 percent over last year.
A Mexican government statement says the butterflies are occupying 14.95 acres (6.05 hectares) in the mountains of Michoacan and Mexico states. That’s an increase from 6.12 acres (2.48 hectares) a year ago.
Millions of monarchs migrate from the United States and Canada each year to pine and fir forests to the west of the Mexican capital.
They arrive in suc