You do not have to be a frog or toad expert to be a FrogWatch USA volunteer! All you need is:
Frog and toad breeding season generally extends from late January through September depending upon temperature, rainfall, length of the day for a specific locality, and biological factors for each species. FrogWatch USA data collection targets peak breeding season for all species across the nation and takes place from February through August.
Join a local chapter and attend a volunteer training session to find out which frogs and toads are in your area and when each can be heard calling. Learn to identify species by call, locate and register a wetland site, and collect and submit observations to the nationwide dataset.
You can also review the Frogs and Toads by State List or a field guide. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Macaulay Library, Western Soundscape Archive, and AmphibiaWeb feature frog and toad calls for look up and practice.
Join a FrogWatch USA Chapter
FrogWatch USA Chapters are hosted at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and other like-minded organizations. Chapter Coordinators recruit, train, and support local volunteers. There are currently over 140 chapters established throughout the United States. View the complete list of FrogWatch USA chapters.
Receive Volunteer Training
Volunteer training emphasizes the nature of science as it relates to frog and toad call identification and reporting. Lecture and course material focus on the ways in which volunteers contribute to FrogWatch USA's long-term, large-scale scientific knowledge base. By following systematic and standardized data collection protocols, volunteers contribute to the understanding of local frog and toad species presence as well as their natural history, range, and behavior. Volunteer training opportunities are available in-person and online.
In-person Training Sessions
FrogWatch USA chapters offer a variety of in-person training opportunities tailored to the local frog and toad species and wetland habitats to be surveyed. More than 100 volunteer training sessions are held annually across the United States. View the FrogWatch USA volunteer training schedule.
Online Training
The FrogWatch USA online training courses are now available! The volunteer training course gives you the training and tools needed to become a successful citizen scientist, and guides you through the processes of collecting and entering FrogWatch USA data. Learn more and enroll.
Questions may be directed to frogwatch@aza.org.