Tennessee distributes free milkweed seeds to protect monarch butterflies

State of play: Free milkweed seeds will be available online to Tennessee residents while supplies last.

By the numbers: The program was wildly popular in previous years. Last year, TDOT reported filling more than 37,000 orders. More than 188,000 seed packets were shipped across the state.

The big picture: The population of migratory monarch butterflies has plummeted as development has "paved and plowed over millions of acres of milkweed," according to the World Wildlife Fund, which lists monarchs as endangered.

The latest: There are some signs that preservation efforts have been successful. A 2025 report found the population of eastern monarchs wintering in Mexico had nearly doubled.

Yes, but: Even with that increase, the population remains well below the long-term average.

Zoom out: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last December it was seeking federal protections for monarchs under the Endangered Species Act.

• The agency has proposed listing the species as threatened. A final decision is pending.