La Salle County extension office to host Calling Frog Survey training

The University of Illinois Extension will be hosting an in-person watch party for the next Calling Frog Survey training from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the La Salle County Extension Office.

The Calling Frog Survey is a citizen science project that invites community members to learn how to identify frog calls and contribute valuable data to amphibian conservation efforts. Before the Calling Frog Survey began, little was known about the distribution and status of amphibians in the region. Now the survey is providing information to scientists and land managers who can use the data to conduct management and research that benefits amphibian populations.

Participants will learn the unique calls of the 13 species of frogs and toads found in the Chicago wilderness region. Participants will then be invited back to the La Salle County Extension Office from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, to plan survey routes in La Salle County.

“Last year was the first year of frog monitoring in La Salle County,” said Chris Woeltje, Illinois Master Naturalist. “The goal is to identify areas where frogs are during the breeding season. The data from the survey is used to guide our local land management with conservation planning.”

For more information or to register visit go.illinois.edu/CallingFrogSurvey

If you are unable to attend the in-person watch party on Feb. 8 but would still like to be involved in the La Salle County survey, online training options are available on Feb. 1, Feb. 6, Feb. 8 and Feb. 10. For more information about online options visit frogsurvey.org.