Andy Camper

Frogs

Collect It

Frogwatching

Frogs and toads have been around for hundreds of millions of years but in the last 5 years, they have begun disappearing at an alarming rate. Scientists believe this is because of climate change, human interference with habitat and serious viruses that make frogs very ill or kill them.  

Many different animals can give us clues about the health of our planet, but frogs are very special because they live on land and in water and can give us information about both systems.  And because they have semi-permeable skin, they are very sensitive to pollution and other environmental changes.

Tracking frogs’ behaviour including numbers, mating habits and locations/habitat can help us understand changes in the environment.  The best way to track frogs is by listening to their calls during mating season in the spring and summer months.  And since each species has a very distinct call, it’s easy to record changes in behaviour.

Want to help out? Become a citizen scientist and help preserve toads and frogs in your neighborhood.  You don’t have to be a trained professional  -  all you need is a good ear, a place to listen, some identification tips and a place to record your findings.

There are Frogwatch programs setup in Canada and the U.S.  Use the information in Discover It to help you identify frogs in your area.

Happy listening!