The primary purpose of the WFTS is to determine the status, distribution, and long-term population trends of Wisconsin's twelve frog and toad species. The WFTS began in 1981 and is now the longest running acoustic frog and toad monitoring project in the world.
There are two ways to volunteer:
Route monitoring is used to record frogs and toads at specific locations throughout Wisconsin. Volunteers visit 10 spots along predetermined routes 3 times each year and take note of the frogs and toads they hear calling. These routes are limited to about 2 routes per county.
Phenology surveys help monitor frog breeding seasons in relation to fluctuating spring weather conditions. Volunteers select 1-2 sites to monitor throughout the spring and early summer and monitor them repeatedly for frog and toad calls. Phenology surveys are open to an unlimited number of volunteers.