The major U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal would declare the iconic species as threatened, with federal scientists saying the species is on the decline.

Monarch butterflies are among the truly rare insects that so many have dedicated time and effort to protect, and yet still their numbers decline. The butterfly’s population has dwindled so much, in fact,

Monarch butterfly populations are plummeting due to climate change, and pesticides. Officials propose listing them as endangered.