Monarch butterflies are special. They are the only type of butterfly that migrates like birds. Migration is when animals and insects, such as birds and monarch butterflies, travel from one place to another in order to survive.
Monarch butterflies cannot survive the cold winter. Instead, they migrate south to warmer climates in the fall and winter months. Then, they migrate north again in the spring and summer. During their migration, monarch butterflies stop each night to rest. They huddle together to stay warm. They also stop for food from plants along the way.
Monarch butterflies travel to the forests in the mountains of Mexico. They hibernate until it is time to travel north again. Hibernation is when a living thing rests or goes into a deep sleep through the winter. Scientists are still studying how the monarchs know which direction to travel.
What Do You Think? Why are scientists interested in studying monarch butterflies?
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