The Minnesota Frog and Toad Calling Survey (MFTCS) is a volunteer based community science program run by the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program. Our goal is to monitor frog and toad populations statewide.The original survey ran from 1994-2017, and volunteers collected thousands of observations of Minnesota’s frogs and toads. With your help, we learned valuable information on the location of species throughout the state, as well as changes in their population and distribution.The survey re-launched in 2023 with updated tools and protocols and continues to develop and grow.
How does it work?
Volunteers conduct surveys along pre-set routes after dark. Most routes have ten roadside stops where volunteers stop and listen to the frogs and toads that are calling.Different frog and toad species breed and call at different times during the season, so it is important that volunteers repeat their route during three different survey periods throughout the season.Volunteers record all of the frog and toad species that they hear at each stop, as well as weather and other basic information.Who can participate?
Anyone! You don’t need to be a frog and toad expert to participate. If you are willing to learn and can commit to the terms of the survey, you are welcome to join.The 2025 Frog and Toad Calling survey is open to new and existing volunteers. Participants must sign up as DNR volunteers, choose a route, practice identifying frogs and toads by call, and submit their data to the Frog and Toad program coordinator by the end of the survey season.Sign up
If you’re interested in signing up, please follow these steps:Sign up as a 2025 Frog and Toad volunteer in Better Impact, the DNR’s volunteer management software.Sign up for a route. You can use our online map to choose a route that will work for you. If there is not an available route in your area, please contact the Program Coordinator to discuss options. It may be possible to establish new routes, especially in areas of the state with limited coverage. Please note that some routes may not be available to first time volunteers.What happens after I sign up?
- All volunteers, but especially new volunteers, are highly encouraged to attend one of our online trainings before the season starts. If you are not able to attend any of the training sessions, you will be able to watch the recording at a time that works for you.
- Practice, practice, practice! You should be comfortable with frog and toad calls, your route, and the survey protocol BEFORE you go out on your first nighttime survey.
- Download and get comfortable using the Survey123 data collection app on your phone. Doing a test run during the day is a good opportunity to test the app.
- The calls are also embedded in our data collection app in case you need to double-check an identification while you’re in the field.
- You should drive to all the stops on your route during the day at least once before you survey. Check all the stop descriptions provided with your map and make sure they are still accurate. Many of these descriptions are old and may need to be updated. If any stops on your route are gone, unsafe, or inaccessible, contact the Program Coordinator about modifying your route.