Frogs, Toads and Conservation

By Amy Greene, Nature Center Director

As springtime blossoms, inviting us to notice and celebrate the seasonal changes, the Belle Isle Nature Center is the perfect place to connect with local nature.

One of the best ways to enjoy the season and help care for the natural world is to observe frogs and toads. These amphibians thrive during the spring as they emerge from hibernation, their croaks filling the air and signaling the season's true arrival. You might hear them near ponds, serenading the spring evenings in a chorus of mating calls.

If you are interested in getting involved, the FrogWatch USA program provides a unique conservation opportunity. This participatory science initiative encourages people worldwide to track frog and toad populations in their local areas — including right here on Belle Isle in the heart of Detroit. By simply listening to frog and toad calls and noting their locations, you can contribute valuable data to the protection of these important species. It’s a great way to help conserve wildlife while learning more about the frogs and toads who live right here in the community.

The program offers field training to equip volunteers with the knowledge and tools needed to participate. It is completely free to join, and no science degree is required — just a free certification course you can earn with the Detroit Zoological Society.

To get an even closer look at some local frogs and toads, hop on into the Belle Isle Nature Center, where you can get a ground-level view of American toads and gray treefrogs in their expansive habitat. This space is designed to represent a local amphibian-friendly backyard. You can also check out the bullfrog habitat and try to find this very large resident hiding out by the soggy logs.

What are you waiting for? Get outside and become a hero for frogs and toads today!

Become a hero for frogs and toads with FrogWatch USA! Find out how you can join the mission at detroitzoo.org/events/frogwatch.