Toad Detour

No Toads Tonight. Check back on March 1 when Toad Detour season begins.

About Toad Detour

Three children observe two toads at night on a paved surface.

Toad Detour protects the local toad population during the spring breeding season. To prevent road fatalities as toads travel to and from the Roxborough Reservoir and surrounding forests, volunteers close sections of Port Royal Ave between Hagy’s Mill Rd and Eva St and Eva St between Port Royal Ave & Summit Ave.

Toad Detour volunteers are citizen scientists who collect data by recording the quantity, species, and age of the amphibians they see. Volunteers can serve as Shift Supervisors or Toad Counters. Training for Toad Detour takes place every February.

The 2025 Toad Detour season runs from March 1st to June 30th.

History

A toad on the street next to a orange cone and a triangle sign that reads Roxborough Reservoir Toad Detour.

Toad Detour was founded in 2008 by Lisa Levinson, who observed that toads were often hit by cars traveling on the roadways around the Roxborough Reservoir. The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education officially adopted the program in 2012. The program is managed by the Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager, Susan Slawinski, and a team of dedicated volunteer Shift Supervisors.

Toad Detour Volunteer Training

Attend one of our free training sessions to learn more about volunteering for Toad Detour. Register for either the In-Person Training on February 8th from 1-3pm or the Virtual Training on February 22nd from 1-3pm.

If you miss these training sessions, a link to a Toad Detour training video will be posted in late February. Shift Supervisors review the rules and responsibilities at the start of each volunteer session.

Volunteer Roles

Two Toad Detour volunteers wearing orange vests standing behind blue and yellow barricades on a road at night.

Toad Counters

Toad Counters are volunteers who collect data and help amphibians cross the road. They also assist in putting up barriers on the road. 

Shift Supervisors

Shift Supervisors have the important responsibilities of providing instructions to Toad Counters, compiling data at the end of the night, and submitting reports to the Volunteer Manager. To ensure a crossing is overseen, Shift Supervisors are asked to register to volunteer by 2:00pm on the day of a weekday crossing. If a crossing is likely to occur on a weekend, they should register for the Saturday or Sunday shift by 2:00pm the Friday before.

Interested in this leadership role? Contact [email protected] after attending or viewing a Toad Detour Training for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who can be a Toad Detour volunteer?

    Toad Detour brings together volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience. Scout groups, college students, retired professionals, and basically anyone who is interested in amphibian conservation is welcome to help. Volunteers can expect to stand for 2-3 hours with occasional bending. Make sure to dress appropriately and wear sturdy close-toed shoes, as some nights may be chilly and rainy.

  • When do toads cross the road?

    The 2025 Toad Detour Season runs from March 1st to June 30th. Toad crossings are dependant on the weather but they general take place in the evenings on wet, warm nights. Typically, volunteers are on site during a toad crossing between 7pm and 9pm.

  • What time do volunteers arrive during a toad crossing?

    Shift Supervisors should arrive by 6:45pm and Toad Counters should arrive by 7:00pm. Crossings finish by 9-9:30pm.

  • What kind of weather is best for toads?

    Toads emerge from brumation, similar to hibernation that mammals experience, when temperatures rise above freezing and daylight lasts longer. On warmer nights that are above 50°F, particularly after a rain event, you are more likely to encounter migrating amphibians. Under ideal conditions, hundreds of toads have been witnessed crossing in a single evening. If temperatures are too cold, too hot, or too dry, toads may not cross at all.

  • How will I know if there will be a crossing?

    During the Toad Detour season, Monday through Friday, this page will be updated by 4:00 PM with an official announcement if a crossing will take place that night. For Saturday and Sunday, an announcement regarding the likelihood of a crossing will be made by Friday afternoon. Volunteers should also coordinate with each other through the official Toad Detour at the Schuylkill Center Group on Facebook. Chris Hand, a dedicated Toad Detour Volunteer, has developed a website that predicts the likelihood of crossing toads, which can be viewed HERE.

  • How can I help?

    Toad detour is a community volunteer effort supported by the Schuylkill Center. If you believe that protecting wildlife is important you can support our efforts by volunteering, sharing our story, donating, or joining our community of dedicated members.