Travelling south through Nakusp this week? Help save the tiny toadlets!

Toadfest at Summit Lake Provincial Park near Nakusp will be held on Wednesday July 27, between 4 and 7 pm, and on the following morning between 9 am and noon. The free, fun, family event is primarily held to raise awareness about the Western Toad: about its natural history and life cycle, habitat requirements, and the challenges it faces. One of the major challenges the toadlets face is to cross Highway 6 at Summit Lake. There they run the risk of getting squashed as they migrate from the lake’s shoreline to the upland habitat where they mature. Photo courtesy of the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program
Toadfest at Summit Lake Provincial Park near Nakusp will be held on Wednesday July 27, between 4 and 7 pm, and on the following morning between 9 am and noon. The free, fun, family event is primarily held to raise awareness about the Western Toad: about its natural history and life cycle, habitat requirements, and the challenges it faces. One of the major challenges the toadlets face is to cross Highway 6 at Summit Lake. There they run the risk of getting squashed as they migrate from the lake’s shoreline to the upland habitat where they mature. Photo courtesy of the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program

Toadfest at Summit Lake Provincial Park near Nakusp will be held on Wednesday July 27, between 4 and 7 pm, and on the following morning between 9 am and noon.

The free, fun, family event is primarily held to raise awareness about the Western Toad: about its natural history and life cycle, habitat requirements, and the challenges it faces. One of the major challenges the toadlets face is to cross Highway 6 at Summit Lake. There they run the risk of getting squashed as they migrate from the lake’s shoreline to the upland habitat where they mature.

Wildlife fencing, and toad tunnels under the highway, including a new larger one constructed in 2014, have been successful in providing some safe passage but despite the infrastructure improvements, getting safely across the highway remains a major obstacle. Of special concern are the adult females who migrate in the spring, each of whom can carry up to 16,000 eggs.

“The dime-size toadlets migrate in the summer and Toadfest provides a unique opportunity to not only learn about the toads, but help carry a few toadlets across the road,” said a statement from the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) that coordinates the annual event. “There will also be lots of interactive displays, and some other live critters on show, during the event.”

With the recent milder winters, and warmer springs and summers, the breeding has started earlier, and so, too, has the toadlet migration. Now in its seventh year, this will be the first time that Toadfest has been held this early in July.

The event is coordinated each year by the FWCP with support from BC Parks, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Columbia Basin Trust, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. For more information on Toadfest call 250-354-6333 or visit the Fish & Wildlife Compensation’s website at fwcp.ca.

The FWCP is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and Public Stakeholders, to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by BC Hydro dams.

Click here for additional information.