Our 2014 telemetry pilot study year 

was a success!  

Last fall we successfully tracked 8 adult toads and found 6 hibernacula (hibernating locations).   We monitored the hibernating sites through the winter and in the spring we were lucky to have one of our toads lead us to a new (previously unknown to us) breeding site in the Sahtlam area.

First toad fitted with a transmitter on Oct 21, 2014 and released later that same night.

Transmitter belt

We fitted each toad with a small belt that has a little radio transmitter and released the animals where we first found them. 

Elke using the H-antenna to locate the signal
from a toad with a transmitter                            

Using a hand held radio receiver, we went out on a weekly basis to locate each individual to follow their movement patterns and identify winter hibernation sites.

Shari using the receiver without an antenna to hone in on the
exact location of a toad                                                             

Toad 1 bedded down in leaf litter in late October.

 At each radio-location a visual of the toad was obtained if the animal was at or near the surface. On occasion the toad was handled to check belt fit and to monitor skin condition. For the majority of the radio-locations, only a photograph was taken to minimize stress for the animal.

Toad 8 after emergence from winter hibernation.

Four toads were visually observed after emergence from hibernation starting in early January which coincided with average daily temperatures at or above 6 degrees. 

Telemetry 2015 

The Western Toad winter hibernation radio telemetry project is starting up again this September and will be running until approximately March 2016.  We will be looking for adult toads starting in early to mid-September and would like to have 15 toads on the air.  We will then track and monitor these toads on a regular basis to try and identify where they choose to spend the winter months.  

Public Meeting 

We are planning a project update talk and training session on Tuesday September 22nd from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the Sahtlam Fire Hall.  We are also hoping to get some media coverage this fall to help raise the awareness of this project.  One of the biggest challenges that we face is access to private property as we follow toads throughout the landscape.  We would greatly appreciate the support and cooperation of land owners regarding access if a toad moves onto their property, as we do not want to trespass and we respect peoples’ privacy.  If you live in the Sahtlam area, please talk to your neighbours and encourage them to join us at the public meeting this September to learn more about our project.

Calling all volunteers!  

Tracking toads in December 2014                        

We will be looking for adult toads this fall (Sept. through Nov. 2015) and could use the help of volunteers with this task.  Please keep an eye out for these animals when you are working in your garden or enjoying the great outdoors.  Evening walks on those rainy fall days (which we hope are coming soon) are also a good time to find amphibians as they move around the landscape.  If you find an adult toad, (about the size of your fist), place it in a large bucket with a lid with air holes and some damp leafy material.  Contact us immediately and we will come to fit it with a transmitter and release it where you found it.  We will be giving more details and training on what to do if you find a toad at the public meeting in September. 

If you have any questions or want to get involved, please contact us at:

duncantoads@gmail.com or
Shari: 250 597 7473
Elke: 250 802 7647