The Saint Louis Zoo is seeking citizen scientists to monitor frogs and toads from their backyards, parks, fields, creeks or just about anywhere. The information gathered can ultimately lead to devising ways to stop amphibian decline.
You’ll be asked to make a commitment to monitor a site of your choosing for at least three minutes twice a week throughout the frogs’ breeding season, which ranges from about February to August after being trained in how to distinguish the calls of the 10 most common frog and toad species around the St. Louis area.
Training is offered 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 11 at Living World Building, Saint Louis Zoo; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 in the Carriage House at Shaw Nature Reserve; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 8 in the Carriage House at Shaw; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at the Visitor Center at Broemmelsiek Park; and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12 in the Carriage House at Shaw.
For more information, to hear some frog calls and to register online, visit stlzoo.org/frogwatch or aza.org/frogwatch. Contact Michael Dawson at dawson@stlzoo.org or (314) 646-4551 with any questions.