The number of monarch butterflies spending winter in the western U.S. dropped dramatically this year, despite moves to extend protections for the insect.

Just over 9,000 monarchs were counted in California last winter, the second lowest ever since the annual count began in 1997

This year the organization counted 9,119 monarchs, the second-lowest total since tracking began in 1997. The organization has recorded more than 200,000 monarchs in each of the last three years.

The number of monarch butterflies in California is in sharp decline this year. This is the second-lowest population recording since tracking began in 1997. Biologists say record-high late summer temperatures and drought in the West likely contributed to the dropoff.