What is Toad Watch?
Our Toad Watch program is a volunteer led identification and conservation project which aims to help the Western Toad, a SARA listed species, cross from their year round habitat to their breeding grounds in the wetlands of the Columbia River.
Each year Western Toads move downslope from their forest habitat on Mt. Mackenzie and Mt Cartier to breed in the marshes at the edge of the Columbia River. The adults, followed not long after by the toadlets, then return to the forest in late July or early to mid-August (temperature dependent). Each crossing means traversing Airport Way which can be busy with residential, business and recreational traffic.
Inspired by initiatives undertaken by the Valhalla Wilderness Society and Kootenay Conservation Program, Wildsight Revelstoke aims to improve the survival rate for adult Western Toads and toadlets by helping them to cross Airport Way during their peak migration times and collecting data to inform management measures. With the help of dedicated volunteers, we will visit Airport Way at dusk and on rainy days to record data and move toads off of the road. Toad Watch activities include recording the sex, vitality status, location and direction of travel to collect valuable information on our local population of Western Toads.
How do I join?
- Attend one of our in-person training nights on April 7th and 14th where we will meet at 8:30pm at the 6-mile pullout
- Sign the waiver
- Read the 2026 Toad Watch Protocol
- Sign-up for volunteer shifts
- Contact revelstoke@wildsight.ca if you have any questions
- No prior experience necessary!
Resources and Useful links
Toad Watch Resources
- Slides from the March 25th 2026 Online Training Session
- 2026 Toad Watch Protocol
- How to Use Gaia Info Sheet
Guides & ID sheets
- BC Reptiles & Amphibians
- How to ID egg masses, toads, and other amphibians
- A Guide to Amphibians North of 50
- BC Reptiles Guide on Western Toads
- Amphibian ID Sheet
- Amphibian Guides of BC
Conservation Plans & Initiatives
- Species profile SARA registry
- FrogWatch
- BC Western Toad Management Plan
- Valhalla Wilderness Society Western Toad Project
- Toad Angels Video
For Kids
