Potter Park Zoo is inviting Michigan residents to join FrogWatch and become volunteer citizen scientists!

Amphibians are some of the most threatened animals on the planet and the anurans (frogs and toads) represent roughly 90 percent of all amphibian species. Their sensitivity to environmental change also makes them important indicators of environmental health, sparking numerous efforts to understand the causes and geographic distribution of their decline.

During our two sessions, volunteers will learn about basic amphibian biology, wetland habitats, and how to identify local frogs and toads by their behavior and mating calls. As citizen scientists, their observations will be uploaded to a national database. This is a great opportunity for adults and families alike to get outdoors and experience our native wildlife. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

You do not have to be a frog or toad expert to be a FrogWatch volunteer! All you need is:

• An interest in frogs and toads and a willingness to learn their calls
• Ability to attend one of our two training sessions
• A commitment to follow the standardized protocol to monitor a wetland site over multiple evenings throughout the breeding season (February – August)

Michigan Frog/Toad Webinar – Free

Learn more about frogs and toads by attending this free webinar, even if you can’t attend one of the FrogWatch training sessions.

(Participants taking the FrogWatch training must attend one of these webinars prior to the FrogWatch course.)

Monday, March 13, 6 – 8 p.m. – Register HERE

Wednesday, March 15, 7 – 9 p.m.– Register HERE

Potter Park Zoo will offer three FrogWatch training sessions for 2023:

March 19 (One session): 1 – 3 p.m.  –  SOLD OUT

March 25: 10 a.m. – noon  –  GET TICKETS HERE

March 25:  2 – 4 p.m.  –  GET TICKETS HERE