How are you Surveying this Season?
Hogle Zoo staff and interns measuring a boreal toad. Photo by Sierra Hastings
Hey toad team!
We are absolutely blown away by the enthusiasm you all have for getting out and surveying for Boreal Toads this summer! With our Guided Day Trips completely full, and only a few spots left for Camping Trips and Independent Surveys, we just want to say thank you for your participation.
If you'd still like to get out to survey for boreal toads but aren't able participate in the Guided or Independent surveys, you can always do Opportunistic Surveys!
If you're out hiking above 6,000ft in the Uintas, Wasatch, or Oquirrh mountains this summer and find yourself near still or slow moving water - you are in potential boreal toad habitat. All it takes is a few photos and completing a Data Form to submit your Opportunistic Survey.
Volunteer Resources
Need a refresher on all things Boreal Toads as we hop into survey season? Find all resources linked below and on the project page.
Community Science Resources
Data Entry
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions to borealtoad@sagelandcollaborative.org.
Check Out a Toad Backpack!
Hogle Zoo intern on a survey this spring. Photo by Sierra Hastings.
Toad Backpacks are now available to borrow!
While not necessary to complete your survey, these backpacks contain all the instructions and equipment you'll need to do a full amphibian & aquatic habitat assessment during Independent or Opportunistic Surveys.
Packs are available to borrow from either the Sageland Collaborative office or from the Guest Service desk at Utah's Hogle Zoo - just let them know that you'd like to check out a Toad Backpack!
An Internship in Conservation & Caring
Interns from Sageland Collaborative and Utah’s Hogle Zoo processing boreal toads on a 2022 survey. Photo shared by Cole Nelson.
Cole Nelson served as Sageland Collaborative's intern on the Boreal Toad Project last summer, and we had the chance to chat with him about his experience:
"Boreal toads are one of the best indicators of how the environment is doing, and they are experiencing many different threats that are leading to massive population decline, including chytrid fungus, urbanization, droughts, and water pollutants. As a very sensitive indicator species and a uniquely important nutrient cycler, we need to do all we can to help boreal toads."
Get to know Cole and be inspired by his passion for boreal toad conservation in our latest blog post.
Thank You
This work would not be possible without the dedication of our incredible volunteers. Thank you!
If you're unable to join us in the field this year, there are other ways you can support this project! Please consider supporting this and other conservation work through donating, sharing on social media, or passing this email along to your family and friends.
Don't hesitate to email us at borealtoad@sagelandcollaborative.org with any questions.