Volunteer training for the annual volunteer Rouge River Watershed Frog and Toad Survey begins in February. Interested volunteers attend a two-hour workshop where they learn the basics of recognizing frog or toad type by their call. 

Volunteers are assigned nearby wetlands, then survey on their own on damp warm evenings and submit results to Friends of the Rouge. Last year’s results are available at therouge.org.

The survey has been conducted since 1998 and provides information on the health of Rouge wetlands. The presence of several species of frogs and toads is a good indication of healthy wetlands. Wetlands are critical in restoring the water quality of the Rouge River because they absorb rain water, filter pollutants and reduce flooding as well as provide habitat for many species.

As many as 600 people participate in the survey each year and include families (children are  welcome when accompanied by a participating adult), seniors, students and others.

Survey areas are limited to wetlands within the Rouge River Watershed, which encompasses 466 square miles in the Detroit area, including areas in Farmington and Farmington Hills.  Participants must be willing to survey after dark several evenings a month March through July.

Interested volunteers need to register for one of these four workshops:

• Saturday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m. -12 p.m., Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 North Haggerty Road, Plymouth
• Wednesday, March 2, 7 - 9 p.m. Canton Summit on the Park, Walnut Room, 46000 Summit Parkway, Canton
• Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Farmington Hills City Hall, Council Chambers, 31555 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills 48334
• Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Bloomfield Township Hall, 4200 Telegraph, Bloomfield Township