ORLANDO, Fla. — A push is underway by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect monarch butterflies.

According to the agency, the number of monarchs has declined in North America over the past two decades due to things like exposure to insecticides and effects of climate change. But in Palm Bay, there’s one person who is doing his part to change that. 

“I’m out here every day, all day,” said John Stranz as he stands in the “butterfly garden” on his property.

He says his efforts started when he was gifted a milkweed plant and noticed a caterpillar munching on the leaves.

“So I took him and I, he was right there about where that bigger tree is in the middle of here, and I threw him over the fence,” Stranz said.

It occurred to him that a certain kind of caterpillar turns into a monarch butterfly, which also loves milkweed plants. A few days later, Stranz noticed a caterpillar was back on the plant, so he let it go and did some research.

“And the next thing you know, they’re going into the cocoon stage and I’m following all this on my computer, and I’m into the life of a monarch butterfly,” he said.

Stranz decided to build a cage for the caterpillars with more gifted milkweed plants and the ones he grows. Each month, he releases between 60 and 80 butterflies. He says a type of bond develops between him and the monarchs.

“After you’ve been with them for a while, and you let them go, it really feels good that you helped something,” Stranz said.

Home gardens like Stranz’s are one way officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hope to grow the monarch population. Right now, the agency is seeking public comment on a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species.