Community Science Opportunities

We are hopping into spring with a big bounce! We have two volunteer opportunities for you! Do one or both!

March 4th 2023
Oregon Spotted Frog Survey Training– 9 am till about 3 pm. Training is at the Whatcom Land Trust Office in Bellingham and it will be followed by a same day field visit to a Oregon Spotted Frog site.

March 11th, 2023
Spring Egg Mass Counts – 9am till about 5 pm

WCAMP teams with BP Cherry Point (Birchbay area) to provide a morning training to volunteers on how to identify local amphibians and their eggs. After the morning training and an free lunch, we head into the field for the the most exciting egg hunt you have ever attended.

If you are interested in either or both sign up fast as space is limited. Sorry do to habitats we are in we limit the trainings to folks 16 years and older.

Contact Vikki@whatfrogs with any questions.

Be on the lookout for this non-native amphibian!

We are on the lookout for this non-native newt! Eastern Newts (a.k.a. red-spotted newts) are native to the East Coast, but some how we have a population here in Whatcom County. We are studying where these are occurring and what affects they may be have on local ecosystems. If you see one please take a picture of it and send it to vikki@whatfrogs.org . If you can collect it and we will come and pick it up.

Come Save Frogs!

September and Early October provide the dry conditions that allow us to do enhancement work in one of the local Oregon Spotted Frog habitats. This is a wonderful chance for anyone to come out and join us and see some frogs, learn about them and lend a hand. Our next opportunity is September 24th from 9 am till about 1 pm, but if you cant stay the whole time that is fine as well. Contact Vikki at vikki@whatfrogs.org for more information and to register. The site work is in the Acme area.

WCAMP Work Hits the News Again!

Early Spring is just around the corner and the Oregon Spotted Frog breeding season is coming up VERY soon. WCAMP is ramping up to begin another important season of population census, genetic data collection, and habitat restoration. Check out this wonderful article in Whatcom Talk about the work WCAMP and our partners are doing for this amazing species!

https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2022/02/08/community-partnerships-are-key-to-recovery-of-the-threatened-oregon-spotted-frog-in-whatcom-county/

New Little Invader

It feels like Whatcom County has been in the forefront on non-native species recently between the Giant Asian Hornet, Green frogs and now, get ready for it, the Eastern Newt (a.k.a. Red-spotted Newt) (Notophthalmus viridescens). I have to say they are adorable and how can such a small, attractive animal be a problem? That is what has been said about many introduced species- until they become abundant and affect the local ecology. By the time they are causing problems it is very difficult to control them. At this point we don’t know if Eastern Newts are a problem, but we don’t want to find out. So far this species has been detected at two Whatcom County sites (about 2 miles from each other). We have found the immature eft stage that is the life stage that is terrestrial and moves around and we have found larvae (meaning we know it is reproducing here).

Eastern Newts are native to eastern parts of the United States. We assume our population was introduced by released pets. We are eager to figure out where they occur in the County and if they will need control. So far they have been located around Hemmi Road, Mission Road and Goshen Road. Fall is an excellent time to look for the eft stage (the terrestrial orange stage). They are hard to mistake being bright orange with small red dots. They will usually be found in forested areas under logs or other debris, but after warm rains may be found in more open areas and crossing roads.

What can you do? If you see any of these please pick it up and place it in a jar. Note where you found it and contact us at vikki@whatfrogs.org. If you can’t collect it please take a picture and tell us the location. Thank you for being out there and watching the world!

Last Work Parties of the Season!

This Oregon Spotted Frog thanks everyone that has been helping out this season

Have you wanted to come out and meet the Oregon Spotted Frog and help out with some restoration work? This is the last weekend for our scheduled work parties!

Sept 11 (Saturday) 9 am till 3 pm or whatever you can do.
September 12 (Sunday) 9 am till 3 pm or whatever you can do.

Work parties are from 9:00 to approximately 3:00, but if you are only available for a shorter period, no problem — any contribution of your valuable time is welcomed. There will be multiple tasks for all abilities and we supply the tools. Please be vaccinated for COVID-19 and do not volunteer if you are sick or have been exposed. Please RSVP (Stephen@whatfrogs.org) if you would like to help. Details on where to go will be emailed after you register with Stephen.

Come Help the Frogs!

This Oregon Spotted Frog says Thank You!

Oregon Spotted Frogs desperately need your help!  We have accomplished much in the past 5 years of our Oregon Spotted Frog habitat restoration project, which has allowed tadpoles to reach metamorphosis even in this year of record-setting heat, but the young frogs now must survive an escalating drought before the fall rains return.  Help us open up more aquatic habitat for the rest of this summer and that will endure through future dry summers. And help us continue the process of replacing invasive reed canary-grass with native plant species that will enhance habitat conditions. 
 
Please join us for our 2021 Save the Frogs work parties at the Whatcom Land Trust’s Samish River Preserve! We will be doing various tasks including cutting and extracting reed canary-grass sod with pruning saws, hauling the extracted material, and mowing grass. There will be multiple tasks for all abilities and we supply the tools. We think you’ll find the work invigorating and fun! Enjoy the company of friends and frogs and share the satisfaction of aiding a threatened species in dire need (and see what we have accomplished so far), please contact (stephen@whatfrogs.org) to volunteer for our scheduled work parties each from 9:00 to 3:00 on:   

A picture perfect place to volunteer!

Saturday, September 4th  
Saturday, September 11th   
Sunday, September 12th

RSVP and we will provide additional details.  Please be vaccinated for COVID-19 and do not volunteer if you are sick or have been exposed!

We and our frog friends look forward to seeing you and we thank you!! 

Summer Frog Sounds

Check out this video and you can hear the calls of both Green Frogs and American Bullfrogs (sadly both invasive). This is very typical habitat for both of these species. If you hear or see these frogs we would love to hear from YOU! You can email any sightings to us at vikki@whatfrogs.org . If you get a photo or short video or recording to go with it, all the better.