Monarch butterflies pass through Waterville amid drought

October 17, 2026

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butterflies were observed at Colby College and Waterville on 2026-09-17 and 2026-09-18, during their southward migration to Mexico.¹ These migrants pass through Maine during peak transit for the northeastern population; regional drought has intensified to where 7.72 percent of Kennebec County now reaches extreme drought (D3) as of mid-October, reducing nectar availability during a critical fuel-replenishment phase.¹

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