Friends of the Rouge Needs Frog Surveyors

Volunteers interested in surveying Rouge River wetlands for frogs and toads are encouraged to sign up today for one of two upcoming training workshops conducted by Dearborn nonprofit Friends of the Rouge. Volunteers learn how to recognize eight frog and toad calls commonly heard in Michigan in spring and are assigned a nearby area to survey by listening.

Interested volunteers need to pre-register for one of two training workshops held in March.

Anyone interested in learning about local wildlife and willing to learn the calls and devote a few evenings every month to listening is encouraged to sign up. People from all walks of life participate in the survey, including students, retirees, families (children five and older are welcome when accompanied by a participating adult). Surveys must be done within the Rouge River watershed (survey blocks are assigned as close to volunteers as possible).

The survey has been conducted since 1998 and results are used to track the health of local wetlands. Wetlands are critical to the health of the Rouge River. The survey is funded through a grant from the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project and local Rouge communities.

2013 Workshops

Saturday, March 10
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Farmington Hills City Hall
31555 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills

Wednesday, March 13
7-9 p.m.
E.L. Johnson Nature Center
3325 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills

Learn more at therouge.org.