Boreal Toads Need You!
It's not too late to join toad conservation in Utah.
Plus, join our thank you event and get to know Kayleigh
Dear Boreal Toad Volunteers,
We need your help! We're still looking to fill empty slots for the final August-September visits on our independent survey sites. This information is crucial as our team works with partners to plan for toad conservation.
Not only do volunteers on this project help answer big questions about boreal toads, but they also get to enjoy some of Utah's beautiful places.
A boreal toad survey in Utah's mountains. Photo: Kayleigh Mullen
To join: Check out Strawberry River and the Uintas sites on the Independent Monitoring tab of the signup sheet. If you add your email address to these two secret sites, you will receive an email with specific location information. Otherwise, the DeeMills Reservoir and Lake Creek sites are in need of volunteers. Please contact us with any questions.
Alternatively: If you plan to hike above 6,000 feet in Utah, you can also print data sheets to put in your pack without signing up for a specific site. Then, simply assess and jot down habitat quality conditions as you notice them. Find our field form and other resources on our project page.
How to Become an Independent Toad Surveyor
*Important Reminder for Current Independent Toad Surveyors: We've received a smaller number of surveys than usual this year. Don't forget to send photos of your data sheets to Mary Pendergast, and please contact us with questions!
1. Watch the training and sign the waiver.
2. Sign up for an independent survey - Note that the bottom tabs on the sheet allow you to sign up for different parts of the project--make sure you're on "Independent Monitoring."
3. Print field forms and protocol materials - Those doing individual surveys will want to review the protocol and print field forms and a cheat sheet to take with you on site visits.
4. Optional toad backpack - Independent volunteers have the option to take additional measurements if they'd like to help us map a fuller picture. Pick up backpacks from Hogle Zoo's Guest Services office Monday-Sunday, 9am-1pm or Sageland Collaborative on Mondays, 9am-5pm.
Save the Date: Boreal Toad Volunteer Thank You Event
Thank you so much for all you’ve done this project season. Please join us for our appreciation night, coming up soon!
A Lifelong (Warty) Love: Boreal Toads & Project Lead Kayleigh Mullen
Kayleigh poses with a boreal toad on a survey.
One of the Boreal Toad Project leads, Kayleigh Mullen’s love for wildlife and wild places started at a young age, “roaming free through the woodlands and pastures of a small village in England.”
This blossomed into a lifelong career, leading to her current position as Hogle Zoo’s Utah Conservation Programs Supervisor. “When I learned you could study ecology and wildlife at college level, that cemented it for me. I knew I wouldn't be content doing anything else.”
Get to know Kayleigh in our recent blog post!
Thank You
This statewide effort to conserve sensitive amphibians would not be possible without your dedication. Thank you!
For printable resources, signup sheets, field forms, project updates, and survey protocols, visit our Project Page. Please contact us with any questions.