The last generation of monarchs that emerge in the fall are true migrants.  They have not yet developed the capacity to reproduce (and are said to be in a state of "reproductive diapause").  These monarchs will continue on their journey - heading to a few select sites in the mountains of Mexico. Occasionally, strong south-westerly winds and other factors will create a build-up of monarchs on the peninsula and slow down their progress.  On September 14th 1996, Owen Point vegetation was absolutely covered with monarch butterflies - many exhausted from trying to fly into the wind.  That day, it was estimated that there were at least 8000 monarch butterflies in the park. Some roosts in trees contained over 500 monarch butterflies.

To date, over 20,000 monarch butterflies have been tagged in the park.  Of these, 18 were later recovered over 3400 km. away at the overwintering sites of Central Mexico.  Others were recaptured along the way in many U.S. states, such as Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.  One was even found on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, about 100 miles south of Galveston, Texas.

Much remains to be learned about the biology of the monarch butterfly - such as how it is able to make this remarkable trip to Mexico - a trip it has never made before.  So it is most fortunate that on August 2, 1996, that Canada, the United States, and Mexico signed an agreement for the protection and conservation of the monarch butterfly.

Consideration will also be given to designating Presqu'ile Provincial Park as a member of the International Network of Monarch Butterfly Reserves under a separate agreement signed between Canada and Mexico.