Toad Patrol Helps ‘Sensitive’ Amphibians

Tue., Aug. 18, 1998

From Staff

Why did the Western toad cross the road in this central Oregon resort town? Possibly because it had help from the Toad Patrol.

Ten years ago, the Western toad was the most widespread amphibian in the Northwest, ranging from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. Today, because of an alarming drop in populations, the species is listed as “sensitive” by Oregon wildlife officials.

Only 10 to 15 breeding pairs of Western toads are known to exist in the Sunriver area. The toads must cross the roads that lie between their breeding areas and hatching ponds. And many don’t make it.

So the all-volunteer Toad Patrol fights road kill by giving the toads a lift.

The volunteers string about 150 yards of 6-inch-high drift fence along the sides of the road, funnelling toads into recessed buckets.

Then, they empty the buckets, measure and weigh the captives, and release the toads on the other side of the road.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.