Are you gearing up for spring and the thoughts of being outside in warmer weather are running through your mind? Well, you are not alone as the sun warms the ground and our souls – the some 14 species of frog and toads will soon be here to hear…
The Minnesota Frog & Toad Calling Survey is a great family friendly activity for you to do together. In March, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be looking for volunteers to help track the health of our four-legged amphibians. Just like mussels are an indicator of health in the watershed, so are frogs and toads. They contribute to the balance of a delicate ecosystem.
Volunteers are provided a kit with a CD containing the calls of Minnesota’s frog and toad species, a poster of the species and a map of a pre-defined route in the area of the volunteer’s choice.
A map of routes and past surveys are on the DNR’s website. This year’s “listening surveys” will be on three evenings between April and July. Participants record their information on data sheets provided by the DNR. Click here for more information.
For more information on volunteering, call Heidi Cyr at 651-259-5107 or email heidi.cyr@state.mn.us.
If you can’t volunteer but you want to hear some of the frog and toad calls, click here. Despite what the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says on their “Frogs for Kids” web page, frogs aren’t just for kids.
If you take on the challenge of the Minnesota Frog & Toad Calling Survey, please drop us a note and let us know how your experience was, we would love to hear from you. Email Peg at peg@cureriver.org.
Have FUN!
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