One Woman’s Mission to Save the Toads: A Local Hero's Springtime Ritual
Edited and adapted for One Beautiful Planet
Introduction
"This was my experience; it has been an exercise in appreciation for these beautiful animals and to reflect on these past years. I see this as an opportunity to inform the public from a real-life perspective — joys and some defeats. But I never gave up on those little toads!"
Toad on the move
Each spring, as warm rains awaken the earth, a remarkable migration takes place — one that many people never even notice. Toads emerge from their winter hideaways and make their way to breeding grounds, often retracing the same ancestral paths used by generations before them. But these paths now intersect with something far more dangerous than a curious raccoon or cold snap: roads.
This is the story of Carolyn Morris — a resident of Upper Makefield, Pennsylvania — who, in April 2022, took it upon herself to protect these humble, determined creatures. What began as a spontaneous roadside rescue has turned into an annual ritual of care, documentation, and grassroots conservation.
April 13, 2022 - The Night It All Began
It was a rainy spring evening, and Carolyn was driving home on Wrightstown Road near Cooper Road in Washington Crossing. Through the windshield wipers and mist, she spotted dozens of little creatures trying to cross the road — toads, moving with purpose... and getting crushed by cars.
She pulled over, flipped on her hazard lights, and reached for the closest thing she had: her oversized coffee mug. Then reusable shopping bags. Carefully, frantically, she scooped them up. She didn’t know exactly where they were going, but her instincts told her to help. That night, she tried to deliver them to a wooded creek nearby — hoping they’d be safer there.
"I still hear their little peeps and squeaks of protest," she recalls. “I may have overcorrected trying to find a ‘better site,’ but I was trying my best.”
Baby toad hindered by steep curb
Year One (2022): Learning on the Fly
The very next night, Carolyn came back — this time better equipped. She brought a flashlight, a reflective vest, and a butterfly tent (which quickly became her trusty “toad tote”). She began recording what she saw: photos, videos, data, and sound clips of the distinctive, musical toad songs.
She learned the cardinal rule of “toad patrol”: always move them in the direction they’re headed. Toads have a strong sense of direction and follow deeply imprinted migration routes — often returning to the very pond or wetland where they were born.
Year Two (2023): Taking it Further
By 2023, Carolyn was determined to formalize her efforts. She contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to try and set up an official toad detour — with signs and road closures like those used in other towns — but ran into red tape and dead ends.
Undeterred, she kept going. More videos. More notes. More toads. Some nights were full of energy and songs. Other nights, heartbreakingly quiet, with many toads lost on Cooper Road — a major barrier with steep curbs and speeding traffic.
Year Three (2024): Building Knowledge and Community
In early 2024, Carolyn took a leap: she sought out training and community. She attended an in-person toad patrol workshop at the Schuylkill Center and started using tools like Toadcast, an online platform for community science and amphibian migration alerts.
Makeshift signs help alert cars about toad crossing
Armed with more knowledge and a network of fellow volunteers, she headed into her third season. But it was still mostly a solo mission — just Carolyn in the rain with her reflective vest, birdseed bags upcycled into CAUTION signs, and a camera to document it all.
She captured stunning footage: tree frogs, green frogs, pickerel frogs, and of course, her beloved toads. Some nights, even her granddaughter joined the effort — a multigenerational tribute to care and stewardship.
Year Four (2025): Still Showing Up!
Now in her fourth season, Carolyn continues her personal “Toad Detour” project with unwavering commitment. Her gear has improved. Her instincts are sharp. And her determination remains rock solid — despite the emotional ups and downs of the work. She has since taken on additional volunteers and collaborators from other organizations, such as Jairus James from Falls Township EAC, the Upper Makefield EAC, and was able to attend and have a table at her first public event: the “Green and Growing” Bucks County Community Conservation District Native Plant Expo.
"Still solo toad patrol," she writes in her 2025 log. "Feeling apprehensive on my first day out. But ready!"
Difficult night crossing in the face of car traffic
Why Toads Matter
Carolyn’s story is more than an inspiring tale of roadside heroism — it’s a call to action. Amphibians around the world are declining due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and road mortality. Citizen science and small local efforts like Carolyn’s can make a real difference — especially during critical migration windows.
Toads play key roles in ecosystems, making them important for environmental health and balance:
1. Natural Pest Control
Toads eat large quantities of insects and other invertebrates, including: mosquitoes, flies, slugs, ants, and beetles. This helps control pest populations naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides that can harm other wildlife and contaminate water supplies.
2. Prey for Other Animals
Toads are a food source for many predators, such as snakes, birds (e.g., herons, hawks), mammals (e.g., raccoons, foxes), and larger amphibians. They help support the food web, transferring energy from the insects they consume to higher predators.
3. Indicators of Environmental Health
Toads are sensitive to changes in their environment due to their permeable skin and complex life cycle (aquatic tadpoles and terrestrial adults). Their presence or absence can signal pollution levels and habitat degradation.
4. Soil Health
Toads burrow into the ground, especially in hot or dry conditions. Their digging helps aerate the soil, mix organic matter, and promote microbial activity. This in turn improves soil structure and nutrient cycling.
5. Tadpoles’ Role in Aquatic Ecosystems
Toad tadpoles graze on algae and detritus in ponds, helping control algae growth, keep water cleaner, support nutrient cycling in aquatic environments.
In short: Toads are valuable allies in pest control, food webs, environmental monitoring, soil care, and water health. Protecting them helps maintain resilient and balanced ecosystems.
Each toad matters. Each safe crossing counts. And each person who stops to care — like Carolyn — becomes part of a larger movement to respect, protect, and restore the fragile threads of life around us.
What You Can Do
Want to get involved and help the toads? Here is what you can do:
Join a local toad or amphibian crossing patrol. Many regions have organized volunteer efforts — check with local nature centers or conservation groups.
Slow down on rainy spring nights. Migration typically occurs after dusk when temperatures rise above 45°F.
Get trained. Groups like the Schuylkill Center, Toad Detour in Roxborough, or Amphibian Foundation offer great resources.
Share stories like Carolyn’s. These personal efforts inspire others and grow the community of everyday conservationists.
Thank you, Carolyn, for reminding us what it means to pay attention — and to act. Even one toad at a time!
If you would like to volunteer with Carolyn for the next Toad Detour migration in 2026, here is where she can be reached:
Instagram: instagram.com/uppermakefieldtoaddetour
Facebook: facebook.com/uppermakefieldtoaddetour
Google Form: https://forms.gle/3shzLevAQ6eJPPZj6