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34 | OHCC LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2025 | save the Monarch Butterfly Letting Go: My Monarch Journey in 12 Steps Step 1: I admitted I was powerless over my caterpillars. For years, I helped our Ocean Hills community raise Monarchs. We even built a sanctuary and wrote a booklet. I was the "Monarch guru" — teaching people how to cage, clean, feed, and release them with love and pride. Step 2: I came to believe that nature knows best. In 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife officially banned caging Monarchs. The science became clear: captive-rearing can increase disease, weaken migration instincts, and do more harm than good. Step 3: I made a decision to turn my butteries over to the wild. It's not easy. I still want to rescue every vulnerable caterpillar I see. But I'm learning to trust nature, even when the outcome isn't what I hoped. Step 4: I took inventory of my tools—cages, paper towels, bleach. They're now in storage. My focus has shifted from raising butterf lies to creating a habitat where they can thrive naturally. Step 5: I admitted to myself and others that my good intentions may have caused harm. We didn't know. We wanted to help. But now we do know better — and that means it's time to change. Step 6: I became ready to let go of control. Sometimes that means watching a hungry predator take an egg. Or seeing a caterpillar disappear overnight. That's nature's way, and I'm learning to accept it. Step 7: I humbly asked nature to do what it's always done. And she does. Monarchs are still coming. And we've seen great numbers throughout our community. Step 8: I became willing to release my attachment to raising butteries. Instead, I shared my knowledge about planting native milkweed, reducing pesticides, and preserving overwintering sites along the California coast. Step 9: I made amends by restoring habitat, not handling butteries. The sanctuary here is still beautiful, and with Monarchs galore. A place where Monarchs belong, not a place we display cages. Step 10: I kept checking my instincts. When I feel the urge to "just raise one," I stop, breathe, and remember: this is about their journey, not mine. Step 11: I sought to understand, not intervene. I still learn from every season. There's beauty in simply watching. Step 12: I now share this journey with you. If you've raised Monarchs in the past, I understand the joy and the heartache. But I believe the best way forward — for the Western Monarchs who overwinter in California — is to step back, give them space, and let the wild lead. Written by Rona Cole, Save the Monarch Buttery Director

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