Toad Watch

A volunteer led identification and conservation project to help the SARA listed species Western Toad 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 then return to the forest followed by the toadlets 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. With the help of dedicated volunteers, we will visit Airport Way at dusk and on rainy days to help 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.

Toad Watch 2023 is LIVE. Our spring training for volunteers will be May 23, 2023 starting at 8:30. Contact jenna@wildsight.ca to sign up or for more information! #stopthesquish and help move our Western Toads.

Here’s how you can help!

    • Friends, family and fellow amphibian allies to Toad Watch with. Nobody goes toading alone!
    • Headlamp
    • Bear spray
    • Charged cell phone with the free version of Gaia GPS installed
    • Water
    • Weather appropriate clothing.  
  • Look for toad breeding sites whenever and wherever you can. See the Amphibian ID Sheet to learn more about how to identify egg masses and tadpoles. 
  • Tell your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to not speed on Airport Way from 8:30pm onwards and to keep an eye out for toads while they are driving. 
  • Record additional information to FrogWatch Incidental Observations 

Learn more about Western Toads and amphibians:

Guides & Resources

Conservation Plans & Initiatives 

For Kids

 

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Join The Team

Want to protect wildlife, clean water and wild spaces? Volunteer with us! Wildsight volunteers are a very special group of people who give generously of their time to stuff envelopes, attend rallies, help run events, put up posters, keep tabs on forestry practices in their communities and participate in citizen science initiatives.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Branch Information

Contact

Box 3116
Revelstoke, BC
V0E 2S0
revelstoke@wildsight.ca