Oklahoma
Monarch butterfly migration map 2025: See when, where monarchs can be spotted in Oklahoma
Marvelous Monarchs Watch the the miracle of metamorphosis.
The monarch grows inside an egg, lives as a caterpillar inside the chrysalis and then off on its short but beautiful life as a butterfly
Greg Lovett, Palm Beach Post
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:
Alabama football will be healthier and likely have several starters back for the College Football Playoff.
A handful of starters missed the SEC Championship Game: running back Jam Miller, tight end Josh Cuevas, left guard Kam Dewberry and defensive lineman LT Overton
“I’m optimistic on a lot of these guys,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Sunday.
No. 9 seed Alabama will face No. 8 seed Oklahoma on Friday, Dec. 19 in Norman, Oklahoma in the first round.
“Jam I feel is probably the farthest along, if I really kind of put that in order,” DeBoer said. “I feel really that he’s got a really strong chance of being not just available but ready to go at a level he can compete and do some good things for us.”
Miller leads Alabama with 123 carries for 493 yards and three touchdowns. His pass blocking is also helpful. Miller was seen in a medical boot at the game in Atlanta.
“And Josh would be, he’s on his way,” DeBoer said Sunday. “Kind of just got to keep evaluating with him. I’m holding on to some pretty good hope, but we’ll see. He hasn’t seen our training staff yet today, but every day here now, the next four or five days, they all matter.”
Cuevas became one of quarterback Ty Simpson’s most reliable targets this season before he was injured following the Oklahoma game. He’s missed the past three games with a lower-body injury. Prior to his junior, he caught 30 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Cuevas was also wearing a medical boot during the SEC Championship Game.
“Then we’ll continue to evaluate just where LT’s at,” DeBoer said. “And add Kelby Collins to the mix there too with some of their illnesses and stuff like that, that they’re going through.”
Overton was spotted in normal clothes on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. Overton is second on the team with four sacks this season. He also has tallied 33 tackles.
As for Dewberry, the primary starter at left guard this season, DeBoer said postgame he expects Dewberry bak
“So many guys in the last two to three weeks have, even go back to the Oklahoma game, a number of our guys got dinged up,” DeBoer said. “Just grinding through it. Some of the guys, I don’t think, if it was someone else, they probably wouldn’t have played. But our guys wanted to get out there last night and compete and help the team out.”
Finally, Oklahoma will learn its path on Sunday.
The Sooners sat out conference championship weekend knowing that they’ll be on the bracket when the College Football Playoff field is announced (11 a.m., ESPN).
And after Saturday’s events, OU will likely get to play one more game at the Palace.
Brent Venables’ fourth OU squad — Team 131, he calls them — entered the weekend ranked eighth by the CFP Selection Committee.
The top four teams in the final rankings will each get a bye in the first round of the CFP, and the teams ranked 5-8 will host the lower seeds in a first-round contest.
Nothing happened Saturday to alter OU’s plans to host.
How to Watch the College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal
- When: Sunday, Dec. 7
- Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Channel: ESPN
BYU was torched by Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game, then Georgia overpowered Alabama in the SEC title game in Atlanta.
The Cougars and the Crimson Tide were the only two teams who had a real chance to jump Oklahoma and force the Sooners to hit the road for their first-round game.
Sunday, OU simply waits to see who they will face in their first College Football Playoff since 2019, and when: the evening of Dec. 19, or sometime on Dec. 20.
The likely opponents come down to Notre Dame, Alabama or Miami, but it is unclear what the committee will do with the Crimson Tide following their emphatic defeat to Georgia.
Read More Oklahoma Football
If Oklahoma stays at No. 8, the Sooners will host the 9-seed in Norman. The winner of the 8-9 contest will likely head to the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinals to play the presumptive No. 1 seed, Indiana.
The Hoosiers on Saturday captured their first Big Ten Championship since 1967 and their first outright conference title since 1945 with a victory over No. 1-ranked Ohio State. The Hoosiers improved to 13-0 in Curt Cignetti’s second season in Bloomington. They are quarterbacked by the new Heisman frontrunner, Fernando Mendoza.
The Sooners also have executed something of a rebuild under Venables, albeit a little slower, with their second 10-2 regular-season finish in their last three years and a playoff berth in just their second season as a member of the SEC.
Sunday’s Selection Show is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on ESPN.
NORMAN — Before the season, Oklahoma’s November schedule looked daunting.
And though a couple of the games had a bit less bite than they might’ve appeared early in the season, it was still as tough of a closing stretch as there was in college football.
The Sooners rose to the occasion, with road wins over Tennessee and Alabama and home victories over Missouri and LSU.
With the victories, OU is almost certainly heading to the College Football Playoff when the field is announced Sunday.
Here’s a look at the Sooners’ five most impactful players during their November run (in alphabetical order):
Read More Oklahoma Football
Eli Bowen, Cornerback
Bowen and his brother came up huge during the closing run.
The younger of the two had the flashiest play, an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown against Alabama that put the Sooners up 10-0 late in the first quarter.
Bowen also had an interception against Missouri, sealing the game with his pick in the final minute.
Peyton Bowen, Safety
Bowen had interceptions against Tennessee and LSU.
Against the Volunteers, he picked off Joey Aguilar late in the second quarter and returned it 37 yards to the OU 41, helping set up Tate Sandell’s 51-yard field goal that put the Sooners ahead 13-10.
His interception against LSU might’ve been even bigger.
Just after John Mateer was intercepted in the first quarter, then made a touchdown-saving tackle at the OU 4, Bowen picked off Michael Van Buren Jr. in the end zone.
The Sooners wound up having to punt the ball away on the drive but keeping the Tigers without a score there was huge.
Bowen also blocked a field goal in the second quarter against Missouri, with OU trailing 3-0.
Moments later, Isaiah Sategna’s 87-yard touchdown reception but the Sooners on top.
Gracen Halton, Defensive Tackle
There were plenty of candidates among the defensive line — R Mason Thomas had the incredible fumble return against Tennessee, but was hurt on the play and didn’t play again the rest of the regular season, and Taylor Wein was excellent during the month helping the Sooners not skip a beat without Thomas. But Halton’s disruption stood out among the group.
The stats don’t do justice to how good Halton was during the month, but his 82.8 PFF grade against LSU gives plenty of insight into his value during the month.
Tate Sandell, Kicker
Sandell might be the Sooners’ Most Valuable Player for the season, and certainly showed his worth during November.
He went 9 for 9 on field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points. Four of Sandell’s field goals during the month came from more than 50 yards.
Sandell was particular impactful against Tennessee, when he hit three second-quarter field goals — two longer than 50 yards — to send OU into the half with a 16-10 lead.
At this point, it would be a surprise if Sandell didn’t become the Sooners’ first Lou Groza Award winner after making 23 consecutive field-goal tries after his first try of the season missed and going 32 of 32 on extra points.
Isaiah Sategna, Wide Receiver
Sategna separated himself as the Sooners’ top receiver well before November, with big games against Auburn and Ole Miss in particular.
But Sategna took things to another level in the season’s final month, with a combined 22 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns during the month.
Sategna’s 87-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter against Missouri was huge, as was his 42-yard punt return against Alabama.
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