Toad Blog
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| lisalev |
| Toad Detour Volunteer Party! |
| 2010.07.11 00:34:29 | |
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You're invited to our official Toad Detour Volunteer Party! We want to celebrate our successes and appreciate everyone who helped. We will offer volunteer awards (silly & serious) and remember highlights of the Detour. Vegan food and refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there! Date: Sunday, July 25th, 2010 Time: 4-5pm Location: Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagys Mill Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19128 Tags: Hits: 70 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Last Official Day of Detour |
| 2010.07.02 03:52:20 | |
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Due to sunny weather, the last official day of the Toadlet Detour was anti-climactic. We didn't see a single toadlet, but we did have fun socializing and reminiscing about highlights of the detour...like counting 100 toadlets in one hour or watching children find their first toadlet. Thanks to everyone who made this detour possible! Together we saved over 2000 toads and several thousand toadlets this season. We plan to have a Volunteer Party to show our appreciation, details TBA! Please register on this site to receive event announcements and advanced notice about the detour for next year. Tags: Hits: 54 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Harassment on Toadlet Duty |
| 2010.06.20 02:08:15 | |
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Last weekend, we had another rainy night with hundreds of toadlets crossing. Volunteers set up the detour, but had some difficulty when two carloads of drunk young men drove through the barricades, killing toadlets, and harassing volunteers. I called the police to make a report. If you're volunteering, don't hesitate to call the police (911) if any suspicious or dangerous behavior occurs. The Pastor of the Worship Center, who is actively trying to end the Detour, also stopped by that night to yell at our volunteers. He has threatened to take legal action and we are prepared with our own lawyer on standby. Saving lives of the helpless and voiceless is a tricky business these days! Due to dry, warm weather, we haven't set up the Detour in a few days. The current plan is to set up the Detour only on rainy evenings, when more toadlets migrate. We expect rain next Tuesday and Wednesday, which are the last official days of our Detour. Hopefully you can come out to help! Please sign up online or call me at 215-620-2130. We appreciate your support :) Tags: Hits: 64 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Raining Toadlets |
| 2010.06.11 06:37:59 | |
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After we thought the migration was over, close to a thousand toadlets came out in the rain Wednesday night! We blocked off the roads and watched with delight as hundreds crossed Eva Street towards the woods. One volunteer counted 100 and felt very lucky! So for now, when it rains, it pours toadlets. Sunny, dry days seem to keep them off the roads. Tonight, volunteers reported seeing toadlets, but not is such substantial numbers. Since we're expecting rain this weekend, we're also expecting toadlets. Please sign up for a volunteer shift to help us continue the detour on upcoming rainy nights. Tags: Hits: 67 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| From Thousands to Hundreds to None... |
| 2010.06.09 02:10:57 | |
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I’ve been out of town and have a lot of catching up to do…During our last rain, we had a mass migration of toadlets from the Reservoir. Many crossed Eva Street and even began crossing the Summit Street, near Eva. Our volunteers were overwhelmed with the sheer numbers of toadlets! One driver assured me he saw no toadlets, but I saw hundreds (perhaps even thousands) as I walked down the same street. Since then, numbers have been steadily decreasing. Volunteers reported seeing a couple hundred toadlets for the next two nights, then 50 or so. Last night, there was not a toadlet in sight! The next rain will determine whether or not the toadlets have completed their migration. We expect more activity during the rain so if we don’t see toadlets, we’ll know that the migration is over. We still need volunteer help to man the barricades until we know for sure. Tags: Hits: 74 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Swarming Toadlets on Eva Street |
| 2010.06.01 02:42:19 | |
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The toadlets were right on cue last night! They were already crossing when we started the detour. Soon after several families and volunteers arrived to join our efforts. They successfully crossed over 500 toadlets in a couple hours! We noticed as many toadlets crossing on Eva Street as on Port Royal. It was a wonderful evening with many supportive comments from drivers. We expect more of the same for the next couple evenings. Hope to see you there! Tags: Hits: 90 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Daytripping Toadlets |
| 2010.05.31 02:50:45 | |
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Saturday night volunteers helped a few hundred toadlets cross the road. Another family joined the brigade and recorded over 100 toadlets themselves! We noticed that the migrating toadlets are moving further down Port Royal and are now mostly crossing Eva Street. Unfortunately, I also noticed that the toadlets are moving during the day. I was very surprised to find them hopping across Eva Street this morning with no detour to protect them. Yikes! I realize that we can't save all of them, but it was very sad to see them taking leaps of faith into oncoming traffic. They're so small that some actually made it across. Others perished en route. Hopefully we can find another solution to allow safe passage for these daring toadlets! Please email ideas to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tags: Hits: 76 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Toadlets On TV! |
| 2010.05.30 02:20:54 | |
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Last night was a repeat of the night before. Around 6pm, toadlets started hopping in the grass along Port Royal moving downhill towards the intersection of Eva. Before volunteers arrived, I helped a cup full of toadlets across the street. I hesitated to leave that spot since there was a steady stream of toadlets, unnoticeable to the naked eye. Luckily volunteers arrived soon after to set up the barricades and start saving lives! We experienced an almost predictable assortment of responses to the detour: enthusiasm, support, curiosity, frustration, impatience, rage. Volunteers kept their cool and responded appropriately. Our youngest volunteer (7 years old), Jenna, was the best toadlet crosser. She could see the toadlets well before any of us noticed them! Bob, from ABC Action News, caught Jenna's skill on camera. We finally have our first video footage of crossing toadlets! Although the numbers have reduced from thousands to hundreds, we still need volunteer help! We may see greater numbers as toadlets start to leave the Summit Street side of the Reservoir. Please sign up for a shift on this website. Many Thanks! Tags: Hits: 101 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Toaders on the Storm |
| 2010.05.28 09:04:15 | |
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Tonight a few dedicated volunteers awaited the impending storm with eyes pealed on the road. We set up the barricades and watched as toadlets scurried along the roadsides. We had a rush of 100 toadlets at the intersection of Port Royal and Eva Streets. One volunteer assumed the role of crossing these toadlets, since they were just outside the barricade. Another eager 5 year old volunteer carried several across the road in her bucket. We thought more toadlets would hop into the road as the storm drew nearer, but exactly the opposite happened. As the sky grew darker and darker, fewer and fewer toadlets crossed the road. Perhaps they knew this storm was going to be a big one and didn't want to risk getting washed away. We'll never know, but we'll see what happens next. Stay tuned for Storm Watch, Part 2, as rain is expected all day on Friday... Tags: Hits: 82 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Thousands of Toadlets Hoppin' on Port Royal |
| 2010.05.27 01:26:27 | |
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Wow! What an amazing few nights...Our first-ever Toadlet Detour was quite an adventure. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evenings saw an average of 2,000 toadlets crossing Port Royal towards the woods at the Schuylkill Center. Most crossed between Hagy's Mill and Eva Street. The rest crossed Lare Street towards the neighborhood. Many thanks to the volunteers who showed up at the last minute to set up the barricades. We had several unexpected conflicts with angry drivers who were inconvenienced. It surprised me to see how upset people were when asked to drive two minutes out of their way (around the block) to save the lives of thousands of toadlets. I was actually called "psychotic" by one notable driver. I appreciate how tactful our volunteers were in the face of opposition. Most community members were incredibly supportive. Several children stopped by to see the mini-hoppers. Toadlets look more like insects from a distance, but up close you can see their well-defined toad features. They are more likely to cross on wet, rainy nights. We expect the tiniest toadlets to migrate for 1-2 weeks on Port Royal and slightly larger toadlets to migrate for the next 2-4 weeks on Summit Street. Hopefully you can stop by to help! Please sign up for a volunteer shift on our homepage. Tags: Hits: 385 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Toadlets On The Move! |
| 2010.05.23 03:29:03 | |
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We received word that the toadlets were hopping along the path at the Reservoir a couple days ago. I went to see for myself and sure enough...a hundred hopsters were moving about around my feet. I had to bend down to see them! They're so tiny, about the size of your fingernail. They are fully formed and vary in color from dark to light brown. Very cute! Most toadlet activity was on the path, but soon they will hop down the hill to the road. I saw one adventurous toadlet on the edge of Port Royal, daring to cross. Luckily, I was there to redirect him. Others will be crossing very soon and in large numbers. We expect thousands of toadlets to cross in the next couple weeks. We really need your help to ensure their safety! Please sign up for a shift soon. We're expecting rain Sunday, which may be an active night. Hope to see you soon! Tags: Hits: 66 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Toad Detour Ends |
| 2010.04.18 01:49:43 | |
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Our last night of the Detour was a bit sentimental for volunteers as we packed up the barricades and stored them in the barn for next time. But they won't be stored too long! The Toadlet Detour begins in June. Details and a new volunteer sign-up will be posted soon. Many, many thanks to all the volunteers who made this year's migration so successful! We are very grateful to everyone who showed up to help the toads. Each one of you made a difference! We hope to have a volunteer appreciation party after the toadlet migration, which will be posted on our site. Tags: Hits: 157 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Detour Winding Down |
| 2010.04.16 03:34:08 | |
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The past couple nights we haven't seen any toads, signaling the end of the migration and of our detour. A couple volunteers patrolled Monday through Wednesday to record the count so we know that no toads crossed between 7-9pm. Many thanks to the determined volunteers who showed up despite the decrease in numbers. We still marvel at how many toads crossed during the migration. Volunteers actually carried "buckets of toads" across the road! What a dramatic difference, to see hundreds of toads crossing each night. Now the road seems empty in comparison...but not for long. In a couple months, the road will be teaming with tiny toadlets, who also need our help crossing back to their woodland homes. Friday is the last official day of our Detour. It may rain, so we could see a few toads. We will need assistance packing up the barricades and storing them in the barn for next time. Stay tuned for dates of the Toadlet Detour in June! Tags: Hits: 113 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Rain Calls Toads |
| 2010.04.13 01:50:53 | |
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While patrolling last night, we didn't see a single toad...until we felt the first drops of rain. The rain seemed to call the remaining toads & frogs towards the Reservoir. Still, we saw under 20 toads. Although the migration towards the Reservoir is officially complete, on rainy nights toads will continue to cross the roads. We expect to see more toads on Tuesday, when rain is predicted. Volunteers will be out there through Friday evening, patrolling & counting. If we can get enough funding, we hope to buy signs to alert drivers of crossing toads in the rain. You can help by writing a check to "Mobilization For Animals" with "Toad Detour" in the memo section and mailing it to: Toad Detour c/o Schuylkill Center
8480 Hagys Mill Rd Philadelphia, PA 19128 Tags: Hits: 148 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Lone Frog |
| 2010.04.12 00:55:26 | |
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Saturday night was warmer than Friday, but we didn't see a single toad! Several children, buckets in hand, searched along the roadside for toads. They looked quite official with their headlights and reflective gear. Unfortunately, the children left without seeing any toads. Since many were experienced toaders, they weren't too disappointed. One boy said he helped "buckets of toads" cross the road when he came last week. We told the kids to get ready for the toadlet migration in June, when they will see hundreds of tiny creatures leaving the Reservoir. After the families left, one volunteer found a lone frog trying to cross Port Royal towards the Reservoir. We haven't seen many frogs this season, which is a concern. Last year, many frogs were counted. This year, only a few. We hope to learn what happened to the Pickeral Frogs in our area. Volunteers are still meeting at 7pm near Port Royal & Hagy's Mill to patrol the roads, until our permit ends on April 16th. If we see toads, we'll set up the barricades. Otherwise, we'll patrol until dark and call it an early night. Tags: Hits: 151 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Lone Toad |
| 2010.04.11 01:57:46 | |
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Friday evening was cold & windy, dipping down into the 40's, so we didn't see many toads. Our last Toad Walk for the season was lots of fun, despite the chill. Several eager children got to release our token toad back into the woods. In the process, they found another lone toad in the grass. This toad wasn't feeling too well and appeared to be injured. One girl took pity on the toad, who moved his arms as she reached down to pet him. We were surprised to discover that he was still very much alive. The girl wanted to protect the toad so she carried him to a safe place in the woods. It was very moving to see her concern. When I returned to check on the toad, he was dead. I hope we offered some comfort during his last few moments. Seeing his suffering, his efforts to move despite his pain, and the look in his eyes reminded me of why we set up the Detour each night...to protect the harmless & helpless. Tags: Hits: 206 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| 2,000 Toads Saved! |
| 2010.04.10 02:05:20 | |
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Thanks to Lauren for leading our volunteers on Wednesday evening! We saved 25 toads and almost 75 on Thursday. Most were returning to the woods. Hopefully, many more crossed during the rain throughout the night. This year, we successfully helped over 2,000 cross the road to the Reservoir! Now we’re helping them return to their woodland homes alive. Although the migration is ending, we need volunteer help for the remaining evenings. We meet at 7pm to look for toads and set up the detour if we see a few hopping along. We want their entire journey to be safe. Please check the website before your shift to confirm that the detour is on! When volunteering, remember to wear reflective gear and bring a flashlight. Also watch for ticks in the brush along the roadside. When counting toads, please note which direction they are heading on the tally sheet (towards or away from the Reservoir) and place them across the street in the same direction. Tags: Hits: 281 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Toads Hopping Home |
| 2010.04.08 02:06:46 | |
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The toads are steadily marching on...Toad patrollers counted approximately 75 crossing toads last night. Many were headed back to their woodland homes. We expect more to cross during the rain this weekend, so stay tuned!
Tags: Hits: 152 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Trilling Toads & Barricade Tales |
| 2010.04.07 02:20:20 | |
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Monday night, we crossed about 50 toads, but unfortunately about 25 didn't make it. There was a baseball game and practice so several cars got through our detour. Most of the toads were crossing Port Royal near the ball field. Some were going towards the Reservoir (including a couple mating pairs), while some were returning to the ball field towards their homes. The sound of trilling toads at the Reservoir is very rewarding to hear! We helped cross approximately 2,000 toads this year! Don't miss our last Toad Walk this Friday, April 9th for thrills & trills :) We still need volunteer help for the rest of the Detour. It's interesting, to say the least, to hear comments from drivers as they pass by the barricades. I've informed interested drivers about the migration, comforted a young girl who saw a few dead toads on the road, and tried to respond politely to a "gentle"man who cursed at me and suggested that I go home and "bleep" my husband instead of saving toads. Tags: Hits: 199 | Read more... |
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| lisalev |
| Toads on Fox 29 |
| 2010.04.06 01:01:32 | |
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We've had an eventful few days! Our Friday Toad Walk had 50 people and Saturday had 25. On Saturday, the Toad Detour was featured on Fox 29 News at 10pm with reporter Julie Kim! After a couple nights of crossing 400 toads, the count reduced to 175 on Saturday and 50 on Sunday. So far, we've crossed approximately 2,000 toads, thanks to our amazing volunteers! The count over the next couple days will help us determine if the migration is winding down. Gorgeous weather today may bring more out tonight. The warm rain predicted on Friday night will tell us for sure. We expect more toads to cross, unless their migration is complete. An early toad migration means the toadlets may migrate early too. Keep posted for their migration dates, possibly late May instead of June! Tags: Hits: 204 | Read more... |
