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?
If you are interested in participating in Toad Watch 2025, please review the materials below and contact revelstoke@wildsight.ca if you have any questions.
More information for volunteers:
Before going out:
- Read the 2025 Toad Watch Guide
- Watch the recording from our online information session on Monday April 14th, 2025
- Sign the waiver
- Attend our group training night on Tuesday April 22nd, 2025 – meeting at 8:30pm at the 6-mile pullout (attendance at this session is not mandatory!)
- Download the Gaia app and familiarize yourself with how to use it
- Sign-up for volunteer shifts here
- Join the Facebook Group to connect with other volunteers and share information
- Contact revelstoke@wildsight.ca if you will need to borrow a high vis jacket or headlamp
On the night of the survey:
- Make sure that there are 3 of you, and that you have shared your location and itinerary with a friend or family member
- Bring with you:
- A high-vis jacket
- Headlamp
- Bear spray
- Charged cell phone with the free version of Gaia GPS installed
- Water
- Weather appropriate clothing
- Record toad data on the Gaia app
- After the survey complete our Survey Sheet
Guides & Resources
- 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
- BC Conservation Data Centre
- FrogWatch
- Amphibian Guides of BC
Conservation Plans & Initiatives
- Species profile SARA registry
- BC Western Toad Management Plan
- Valhalla Wilderness Society Western Toad Project
- Toad Angels Video
For Kids
