Volunteers are needed to help Fraser Valley Conservancy (FVC) with the upcoming migration of toads from Ryder Lake.
“The tadpoles are getting closer to metamorphosing into tiny toadlets, and soon will be making their annual mass migration to the surrounding forest,” according to the FVC call for volunteers.
“Come out and help us install silt fencing in a hay field.”
Wildlife stewardswill be toiling in hot conditions with no shade in the hills above Chilliwack on Wednesday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
They’ll be hammering stakes into the ground, and using a staple gun to secure the fencing anchored by hosing that will guide the toads and frogs to the special amphibian crossing tunnel under Elk View Road.
“Installing the toadlet fence will ensure that they get to their tunnel under the road.”
The FVC’s tunnel crossing structure was built in 2015 by Lafarge Canada with help from Environment Canada, and volunteers.
The toadlets migrate en masse back to the forested areas from breeding areas after leaving the tadpole stage. In previous years the FVC obtained road closures from City of Chilliwack, to allow for unimpeded crossings and to reduce toadlet mortalities but recently the emphasis is on voluntary detours.
Sign up for the fencing work bee by June 29 at noon by emailing alex@fraservalleyconservancy.ca. Signing up is mandatory as that will help FVC plan the fence installation project.
Masks, work gloves, boots, sun-protection are required, as well as having one’s own transportation to the site. Lunch provided.
RELATED: Toad tunnel helps amphibian survival
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