MADISON, WI (WTAQ) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteers to help with frog and toad conservation efforts.
The annual Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey has volunteers document frog and toad breeding calls in the spring and summer.
The survey was formally launched in 1984 amid concerns about declining populations of several species of frogs.
Andrew Badje, conservation biologist with the DNR’s bureau of natural heritage conservation, shared what survey results have been doing since it’s implementation.
“Over those years we’ve gained a good picture on where all of our different species are,” said Badje. “In addition to what’s happening on a long term basis trend-wise.”
Survey participants will be keeping track of 12 different species. Each kind of species has a unique call. Participants keep track of how many times each different call it heard and mark it down on a survey sheet that comes from the Wisconsin DNR.
Volunteers go out three nights of survey effort, once in early spring, once in late spring, and once in early summer. They make 10 stops per night along a pre-set route, listening for five minutes at each site.
In northeast Wisconsin, routes in Outagamie, Calumet, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Shawano, and Door Counties are still available. Click here for more information on routes.
For more information on the Frog and Toad Survey, and how to get involved, visit the DNR’s website.
