Monarch and Pollinator News, Alerts, Tips, and Tricks

December 2025

Pollinator Spotlight

Monarch Butterfly

In honor of the Western Monarch Count, our pollinator spotlight is for the one and only Monarch Butterfly! During the winter months, monarchs inhabit groves of trees along the California coast. Beginning in October, monarchs will arrive at overwintering sites to roost until February and March, when they will mate and disperse to start the next generation of butterflies. To learn more about monarch overwintering and breeding sites in Ventura County, click here.

Know Your Plants

Christmas Berry

Christmas Berry— also known as Toyon— is an evergreen shrub in the Rose family. In the winter months, this native plant develops clusters of scarlet berries, which are eaten by a variety of birds. Toyon is easy to grow and particularly likes sun or part shade.

Giving Tuesday

From the Ground Up!

This Giving Tuesday, we're partnering with local food banks & raising $20,000 to expand hands-on conservation work across Ventura County. From the Ground Up, we're growing our capacity to:

🔥 Conduct more pile burns and work with more landowners on fire-safe land management

🌿 Restore landscapes by establishing new sites to grow native plants

🚜 Support farmers and ranchers through networking events and peer learning

💧 Protect our watersheds and water quality

📚 Connect youth to nature through full-day outdoor excursions

To learn more about donating food or donating online, please click the button below.

Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers

Have a plant lover in your life but don't know what to get them for the holidays? Check out the article below for some plant-friendly inspiration!

New Sensors Track Monarch Butterfly Migration

This year, researchers are tracking over 400 monarchs with a solar-powered radio tag created by Cellular Tracking Technologies. This major achievement could provide "crucial insights into the poorly understood life cycles of hundreds of species of butterflies, bees, and other flying insects at a time when many are in steep decline." Click the button to learn more!

Leave the Leaves for Natural Pest Control

Fallen leaves, brush piles, and logs— one person's trash is another bug's treasure! Leaving leaves and other overwintering resources provide beneficial habitat for pollinators and insects that eat pests in your yard. To learn more, click the button below.

MRAC Meeting Recording

Our November MRAC meeting is now on YouTube! In this meeting, we learn about The Green Valley Project, Pollinator Hedgerows, the Pollinator Habitat Program, and the Western monarch Count.

To get on the mailing list for MRAC please email Rachel.Ray@vcrcd.org.

For more information on the Ventura County RCD,

please visit vcrcd.org.