Amphibian species are disappearing at an alarming rate across the globe due to several factors such as habitat loss, pollution, and disease. Become a citizen scientist at Roger Williams Park Zoo by joining FrogWatch USA and help save our frogs.

FrogWatch trainings cover the importance of amphibians in the environment, how monitoring our local population helps to protect various species of frogs, factors to consider in choosing a site to monitor, how to tell frog species apart by their calls, and how to report findings to FrogWatch USA. 

Frogs and toads play an important role, serving as both prey and predator, in wetland ecosystems and are considered indicators of environmental health. Many previously abundant frog and toad populations have experienced dramatic population declines in the United States and around the world, and it is essential that scientists understand the scope, geographic scale, and cause of these declines.

After passing a test on identifying frog calls at the end of the training, certified citizen scientists then commit to monitoring a local amphibian habitat (such as a pond or lake) approximately once a week for about 15 minutes and collecting/submitting data on what they hear. Data collected will be added to a national FrogWatch USA database.

FrogWatch trainings cover a large amount of information and protocols. While frog watching is a great after-dark family activity for all ages, the trainings are designed for interested older children and adults.  For more information and to register visit www.rwpzoo.org/frogwatch.

Training will take place Sunday, Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The cost is $10 per household (two adults and two children age 8 and older).