Without commenting on the value of the little critters, I can share some anecdotal observations.

I get out to where garter snakes used to live. I used to see 4 or 5 a day, now maybe, just maybe, 4 or 5 a year. As a kid caught a lot of them, literally by the bucket, now they're so rare I flinch when I see one.

There used to be a lot of butterflies (flying flowers), especially the little yellow ones. I haven't seem one of them around here for 12 or 15 years, do see an occasional, rare, monarch.

Grasshoppers used to be common. No more, and they're even scarce in the wilderness. Rarely hear that "whirrrrr" when a big one takes off.

Robins, which eat those things, maybe not the snakes, are much rarer. Used to have 1 or 2 of 'em in the yard most of the time. Now, may see one or two a week.

I attribute it to the wide use of lawn and garden insecticides, but for all I know it's global warming, global cooling, tougher immigration laws, zoning, reduced emissions from cars depriving them of CO, or whatever.

But, I do know there's far, far fewer of 'em out there.

For a million each, though, I could find a few, fast.

Arf