Training Dates:                            
  February 28, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  March 18, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  April 17, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

To attend a training session
and become a FrogWatch USA volunteer, contact Gerry Dichiara at gdichiara@rwpzoo.org or
401-785-3510 x358.

Be a FrogWatcher!

We're looking for volunteer “citizen scientists” to participate in our second season of the FrogWatch USA program. 

What does a FrogWatcher do?
Program volunteers attend just one training session that discusses the importance of amphibians in the environment, how to tell frog species apart by their calls, and how monitoring our local population helps to protect them.  Volunteers commit to monitoring a local amphibian habitat (such as a pond or lake) and collecting data on what they hear, approximately once a week for about 15 minutes.    

Why is this important?
Amphibian species are disappearing at an alarming rate across the globe due to a number of factors such as habitat loss, pollution, and disease.  This has led to what many conservationists call a global amphibian crisis, with one third to one half of all amphibian species facing possible extinction. 

Though there don’t appear to be any immediate threats to the species found locally in New England, the monitoring and data collected through the FrogWatch program will help conservationists to keep tabs on these populations and react to any decline much more quickly. 

“Amphibians act as an important indicator species for healthy environments and are a vital part of the food chain, making up the diet of many other species; some that rely on amphibians as a sole source of food. Without amphibians, insect populations could grow out of control and potentially spread disease that could threaten human populations and agriculture.

The loss of the entire class of amphibians would have a catastrophic effect on the ecosystem.  FrogWatch is an easy, enjoyable way for people who have an interest in amphibians and the environment to help.”

Lou Perrotti,
RWPZ Conservation Programs Coordinator

What happens to the data collected?
Data collected in Rhode Island will be added to a national FrogWatch USA database, and will also be shared with the Rhode Island Natural History Survey.   In 2009 Roger Williams Park Zoo trained over 80 volunteers who monitored 80 sites across all 5 counties in Rhode Island.

Learn more about the national FrogWatch USA program.