Washington State University researcher David James has started a new project to track the migration routes of monarch butterflies from Idaho. The effort seeks to answer an unresolved question: do these monarchs travel to the California coast, migrate to Mexico, or take another route?
James, an associate professor at WSU, is asking for public support to fund tiny transmitters known as E-tags or radio tags. These devices allow researchers and donors to follow individual butterflies’ movements in real time. According to James, “This year, we hope to E-tag at least 100 monarchs in Idaho. Unfortunately, E-tags cost $200 each, so we need donations. We will accept any amount but if you want to contribute the full cost of a tag, then you can name the Monarch that carries your tag. You will also be able to track the progress of your Monarch on your cell phone! If you are interested in helping our research and solving this mystery, then go to: http://adoptamonarch.org where you will find all the details about the program and how to donate. Hopefully, our Monarch E-tagging program this year will go a long way towards solving the Idaho Monarch Mystery and you will be part of it!”
The research builds on more than a decade of conventional tagging with paper tags across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. As described on the project’s Facebook page administered by Professor James: “The Washington State University Pacific Northwest Monarch tagging program, which started 14 years ago has proved that all Oregon Monarchs and the vast majority of Washington Monarchs migrate to California and overwinter along the coastline. However, it has not answered the question of where the majority of Idaho Monarchs go. From many thousands of Monarchs tagged in Idaho, only three have been recovered in California (compared to hundreds of Oregon and Washington-released Monarchs). Where do most Idaho Monarchs migrate to? It is possible that they head due south (we have some short-distance tag recoveries that suggests this), flying through Utah, Arizona and perhaps end up in Mexico for overwintering. Conventional tagging, using paper tags seems unable to throw a light on this mystery likely because of the wide, open spaces and relative lack of people to sight tagged Monarchs on an inland route south through Utah and Arizona.”
Recent advances in technology now make it possible for scientists like James’s team to use solar-powered transmitters that send location data via Bluetooth when within range of cell phones. The Facebook post explains: “Excitingly, due to very recent technological advances, we now have the opportunity to track individual Monarchs via the use of a tiny transmitter that can be carried by a Monarch! This solar-powered transmitter allows us to see the progress and route taken by a monarch in real-time! Signals produced by these E-tags are detected by any cell phone with Bluetooth capability that is within about a quarter of a mile of the butterfly. The signals and data are automatically transmitted to a central data-gathering point and available to scientists.”
On http://adoptamonarch.org , further details clarify that during 2026 James is directing research throughout Idaho using ultra-light telemetry trackers called “Blu+ Morpho” units.
In past citizen-scientist efforts led by James’s group using paper tags instead of radio transmitters, some remarkable migrations were observed; for example, one male monarch traveled 285 miles from Ashland, Oregon, reaching Vacaville, California over seven days.
Supporters who donate $200 or more can name their tracked butterfly and monitor its journey through their smartphones.
