Wisconsin Volunteers Track Frogs for 40+ Years

Imagine pulling over at ten different spots on a quiet spring night, rolling down your windows, and just listening to the chorus of frogs calling for mates. That's exactly what hundreds of Wisconsin volunteers do each year, and their work is making a real difference for conservation.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is recruiting new volunteers for its annual Frog and Toad Survey, a program that's been running strong for more than 40 years. These citizen scientists, affectionately called "froggers," help conservation biologists monitor population trends across 12 different frog and toad species throughout the state.

The commitment is surprisingly manageable. Traditional survey volunteers drive an established route on just three nights over spring and summer, stopping ten times each night to listen and record which species they hear calling. Some volunteers focus on the mink frog, found only in northern Wisconsin, which actually calls during the daytime in June and early July.

There's also a phenology option for people who want to go deeper. These volunteers pick one wetland near home and record data as often as possible throughout the calling season, tracking when different species first start singing each spring.

The Ripple Effect

The numbers tell a powerful story about grassroots science in action. Since the survey began, volunteers have collectively spent more than 12,300 nights surveying 120,900 different sites across Wisconsin. That's an incredible amount of data that would be impossible for DNR staff to collect alone.

The results have already shaped conservation decisions. Volunteers documented rising numbers of American bullfrogs and Blanchard's cricket frogs, two species that needed tracking. They've also added crucial knowledge about mink frogs in the Northwoods, helping scientists understand this northern species better.

Andrew Badje, the DNR conservation biologist who coordinates the survey, sees volunteers as more than just data collectors. "Our volunteers are important advocates for frogs and toads in Wisconsin," he said. By spending those quiet nights listening to wetlands, froggers become deeply connected to the amphibians they're helping protect.

The program is partly funded by Wisconsin's Endangered Resources Fund, which residents can donate to through their state income tax forms. That means anyone can support the work, whether they're out counting frog calls or contributing financially.

Spring is the perfect time to join, as frogs and toads are just starting their breeding season and their calls will soon fill wetlands across the state.