What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
Spring evenings in the Northwoods bring a familiar soundtrack. Wood frogs croak from thawing wetlands, spring peepers trill along shorelines, and chorus frogs belt out their breeding calls across the landscape.
But who’s actually listening? Turns out, the Wisconsin DNR needs your ears.
The annual Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey is recruiting volunteers right now to help monitor all 12 native species across the region. About 70 routes — roughly one-third of the statewide total — run through Northwoods counties like Vilas, Oneida, Forest, and Iron.
The survey launched back in 1984 after biologists noticed something troubling. Species like Northern Leopard Frogs, Pickerel Frogs, and Bullfrogs were disappearing from places they’d been common just decades earlier.
“We had numerous reports back in the 50s, 60s and 70s of people not finding these in places that they used to,” said Andrew Badje, Conservation Biologist for the DNR.
That makes this North America’s longest-running community frog monitoring program — over 40 years of citizen scientists tracking amphibian trends. The data helps the DNR understand where species are thriving, where they’re struggling, and what habitat needs protection.
No biology degree required. Just reliable transportation, decent hearing, and a willingness to venture out after sunset.
Volunteers — affectionately called “froggers” — choose between two survey formats:
The DNR assigns routes through their online system. Most Northwoods routes wind through scenic territory — think cattail marshes off Highway 51, beaver ponds deep in the Chequamegon-Nicolet, or quiet lake edges along the Rhinelander Chain.
“If you tried to get biologists to do everything that these volunteers are doing, you’d probably need close to 10 full-time staff to do that, and we just don’t have the conservation dollars for that.” — Andrew Badje, DNR Conservation Biologist
Our region is amphibian central. The abundance of wetlands, pristine lakes, and forested habitat makes the Northwoods critical for frog and toad populations statewide.
Species like Mink Frogs — which volunteers get particularly excited to hear, according to Badje — thrive in northern waters. Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs announce the season’s turn from ice-out to open water.
But these populations face pressures. Habitat loss, pollution, climate shifts, and disease all threaten amphibians. Tracking their calls over decades helps biologists spot problems early and advocate for wetland protection where it matters most.
About 400 volunteers participate statewide each year. That’s not just feel-good citizen science — it’s invaluable data the DNR uses for conservation decisions.
The survey partners with the U.S. Geological Survey and the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, feeding into continental-scale research on amphibian health. Your evening listening sessions in Vilas County inform national trends.
Plus, the phenology surveys added in recent years help scientists understand how variable spring weather — arriving earlier some years, later in others — affects breeding timing. That’s climate adaptation research happening right here in the Northwoods.
All Northwoods routes should be available on the Wisconsin DNR Frog and Toad Survey webpage within 2-3 weeks, according to recent announcements.
New volunteers can register online, browse available routes by county, and choose a format that fits their schedule. The DNR provides training materials, species identification guides, and data sheets.
Badje emphasizes this works as an education tool for all ages. Families, retirees, outdoor enthusiasts, and curious beginners all make excellent froggers.
“What I truly get out of it is just seeing how excited people get when they hear Mink frogs in the Northwoods,” Badje said. “People get a lot of satisfaction for doing this survey.”
There’s something about parking beside a remote marsh as darkness settles, cutting the engine, and letting the frog chorus wash over you. It connects you to the ecosystem in ways a daytime hike can’t.
You’re not just observing. You’re contributing to 40+ years of data that protects the wetlands, forests, and waters that define this region.
As ice-out approaches and breeding season kicks off, the frogs will be calling. The question is whether you’ll be listening — and counting.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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