Community Science

FrogWatch Ontario

FrogWatch Ontario is a fun, easy amphibian monitoring project for people of all ages. It's a great activity for schools, families, cottagers, and community and naturalist groups across the province

FrogWatch Ontario is part of the national initiative, FrogWatch Canada, administered by Naturewatch. Adopt-A-Pond is the provincial coordinator of the program. FrogWatch Ontario is a partnership between Toronto Zoo's Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, NatureWatch, the David Suzuki Foundation, Nature Canada, the University of Ottawa, and Wilfrid Laurier University.

You can listen for frog and toad calls in the spring and summer and help to save amphibians in Ontario! Adopt-A-Pond can help you learn to identify frogs visually and by their calls using our online resources! Contact Adopt-A-Pond to receive a hard copy of our FrogWatch Ontario Package or see our on-line Amphibians of Ontario guide to learn more about the frogs in your area. All data collected online is shared with the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).

Why should I participate?

Over time, trends in Frogwatch observations may detect measurable climatic change in Ontario! Frogwatch data also contributes to scientific databases on frog distributions in Ontario.

1. Frogwatch Observations help scientists:
   • track climate change using phenology (the study of times of recurring natural phenomena) data
   • identify positive and negative population trends
   • learn about range and distribution of frogs and toads (especially in the northern extent of known ranges)
2. It's a fun, easy family or community activity which can lead to protection of wetland habitat & species

How do I participate?

Follow these 4 easy steps to become a FrogWatcher!

1. Learn frog calls using this website or our mobile app
2. Register for an account when you want to submit your first sighting
3. Go out and listen for frogs and toads at your selected location (FrogWatchers are encouraged to monitor for 15 minutes at least three times a week, but even a single observation is useful!)
4. Record and submit observations using the online forms or our mobile app!

Ontario Turtle Tally

Ontario Turtle tally is a fun, easy turtle monitoring project for people of all ages. It's a great activity for schools, families, cottagers, and community and naturalist groups across the province

Report your turtle sightings by entering your observations into our on-line database.

The purpose is to collect, record and store location and species information on Ontario turtles, including species at risk. Turtles are most often seen in June when they are traveling to reach their nesting sites. Adopt-A-Pond can help you learn to identify turtles by using our online resources! Contact Adopt-A-Pond to receive a hard copy of our Ontario Turtle Tally Package or see our on-line Turtles of Ontario guide to learn to identify the turtles in your area. All data collected online is shared with the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).

 

Why should I participate?

1. To help scientists increase understanding of turtle distribution and ranges
2. Information on turtle species and location is useful to identify areas of concern and threats to turtles
3. To learn more about the threats facing turtles in Ontario and around the world
4. To have fun!

How do I participate?

Follow these 4 easy steps to become a Turtle Tallier!

• Learn how to identify turtles using this website or our mobile app
• Register as an observer when you want to submit your first sighting
• Go out and look for turtles at your selected location
• Record and submit observations using the online data forms or mobile app

Please note that red-eared sliders are not native to Ontario.  Please let us know if you found a slider by leaving a comment in the "Additional Comments" box on the sighting submission form!

If you have a turtle question that needs an immediate answer please email us directly at [email protected]