Every spring and fall, Oklahomans watch as the brightly patterned orange and black butterflies make a pitstop in the state during their miles-long, twice-yearly migrations.

The migratory monarch butterfly has a lifespan of two to six weeks, though the butterflies born at the end of the summer live eight to nine months in order to make the journey south and spend the winter clustered in trees in Mexico and California. In the spring, they head to their spring and summer breeding grounds and migrate as far north as southern parts of Canada.

The species was listed as endangered in 2022 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but is yet to be classified as such under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Their numbers are ever-dwindling due to habitat loss and climate change.

Some monarchs have already been spotted in Oklahoma this spring, but as the peak migration approaches, here’s what you need to know.

When will monarchs be in Oklahoma?

The orange and black butterflies have already been spotted in the state, including in southern and central Oklahoma.

During the trip north, monarchs will be looking for milkweed and nectaring plants to sustain them on their journey.

See monarch migration map

Keep up with the monarch migration, and upload your own spottings, at maps.journeynorth.org.

Best places to see monarchs in Oklahoma City

Monarchs are often drawn to parks and gardens where milkweed and native nectaring plants can be found.

In Oklahoma, the traveling butterflies are more likely to be found near Interstate 35.

Oklahoma City destinations monarchs seem to enjoy year after year include:

• Myriad Botanical Gardens
• Will Rogers Gardens
• Lake Hefner
• Oklahoma City Zoo

Where to find milkweed, nectaring plants for monarchs

While the spring migration is already underway, it’s not too late to help out the monarchs with your plant choices. Monarchs benefit from planting done in the spring, summer or fall, according to Okies for Monarchs.

This can be any native nectaring plant, and especially milkweed so the butterflies can have a place to lay their eggs and start the next generation.

Okies for Monarchs has tips on building a garden suited for monarchs and other pollinators, like where and how to plant, size of garden and other butterfly-friendly features you can add.

Some local nurseries that sell both native plants and milkweed include:

MADILL, Okla. (KXII) – A citizen’s complaint to the Oklahoma Department of Education led to the filing of a notice of investigation last week into former Madill High School principal Jason Ward, who is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student while teaching at Dickson Public Schools from 2014 to 2017.

The victim’s statement from the notice alleges Ward had a “prolonged sexual dating relationship” with a Dickson student, as well as “Inappropriate and potential criminal digital communications” with the student.

The notice states that Ward’s alleged actions are a potential violation of conduct for teachers and several state laws, and could be charged criminally.

The case has since been turned over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. As of Friday, no criminal charges had been filed.

Madill Superintendent Victor Salcedo confirmed on Wednesday that Ward was no longer with the district and that middle school assistant principal Ron Norman will serve as the interim principal for the high school.

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The rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas one of the biggest in college football, admired and envied across the country for its scale. But something was lost for the Sooners when they left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference alongside the Longhorns.

Namely, OU’s second biggest rival.

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have met 118 times on the football. They didn’t last season, though, marking the first year year since 1909 they hadn’t played each other. For those that may have forgotten, Oklahoma was not even given statehood until 1907.

But with nothing on the books between between the two for the foreseeable future, some different ideas to keep the fires stoking have been bandied. One of them former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops really prefers.

When asked whether the Sooners and Cowboys should meet in the future for a friendly practice, Stoops loved the notion.

“I like it. It’s just good to see somebody else. I think it’s a good idea,” Stoops said. “I mean, they’re not going to play each other this year, so who cares.”

The national-championship winning coach cautioned that the teams should make it that, though: a practice. Anything more than that could create too much negativity.

“That gets a little bit out of control and gets too heated,” Stoops said. “But just a practice against each other would be good. I like that idea. Then, maybe in the future, there will be some legs to that.”

Oklahoma plays Illinois State, Michigan, Temple and Kent State during its nonconference season in the fall.