Volunteers ready for annual toad migration across Roxborough road

Posted 5/10/16

One of the beneficiaries of Roxborough's Toad Detour. by Eric Dolente There’s plenty of activity at the intersection of Hagys Mill Road and Port Royal Avenue, but it isn’t the sort of traffic we …

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Volunteers ready for annual toad migration across Roxborough road

Posted
Story_Toad One of the beneficiaries of Roxborough's Toad Detour.

by Eric Dolente

There’s plenty of activity at the intersection of Hagys Mill Road and Port Royal Avenue, but it isn’t the sort of traffic we are accustomed to seeing.

In 2009, a once-local citizen named Lisa Levinson was driving on Hagys Mill when she noticed what looked like leaves moving across the street. She pulled over and realized the small objects were lively toads aiming to reach the Roxborough Reservoir Preserve.

Levinson thought these hopping creatures served an important purpose to the ecosystem and couldn’t help but save them from getting squashed. She began organizing volunteers and seeking out permits to close roads. Roadblocks and foot traffic are the main lines of defense to help the toads reach the finish. As it turns out, these toads are making their way to the preserve for one reason: to reproduce.

Eight years later, the Toad Detour has grown strong and is still growing with its number of volunteers and attention from the public.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education took over Levinson’s program in 2011 when she moved to California, with her final request being to keep the program going.

It’s currently migration season, and the toads have already started to make their way into the preserve. The population was at a significant low a few years ago, but is steadily increasing as the year’s progress.

“We’ve seen close to 800 adult American Toads so far this year,” said Schuylkill Center volunteer coordinator Claire Morgan, who took over Levinson’s position but also is in charge of updating the public on the migration.

“Toads like a perfect storm where it’s both moist and temperatures are above 50 degrees” she said. “Recently the weather has made it difficult.”

The unpredictable weather could be the main indicator of the lacking number of adult toads this year she said. The number of toads last year surpassed 1,300, and the year prior was closer to 2,400.

No matter, more volunteers show up at dusk, eager to see and possibly hold the creatures upon their journey. Volunteers include children, high school and college students, senior citizens or anybody who has an interest with nature and toads.

Morgan said she really enjoys getting kids to volunteer.

“We want kids to not be afraid to pick up a toad and be outdoors away from the TV,” she said.

That wasn’t a problem for a group of local Girl Scouts, though.

“Last night, I had trouble getting some of the Girl Scout volunteers to go home because they were so interested,” Morgan said. “I said, ‘You have school and I have work tomorrow!’” she said.

The future for the program is composed of volunteers, but – more importantly – volunteer managers. They’re necessary for knowing when volunteers should be spread around, especially when the weather isn’t cooperating, Morgan said, adding, “We want them to be taught about toad migration and then teach others.”

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