Community Science
IMPORTANT UPDATE: With consultation from industry experts and our Community Scientists, we have decided to transition our Community Science programs to iNaturalist! As a world-class facilitator of Community Science, iNaturalist will allow us to expand our reach throughout Ontario and maximize the impact on protecting wetland species and their habitats. For more information, check out the FAQ document on this page. Become a Community Scientist and join our iNaturalist projects today!
Adopt-A-Pond iNaturalist Transition - Frequently Asked Questions
Submit Your Sighting Online Through
Adopt-A-Pond Ontario Turtle Tally FrogWatch Ontario
Submit Your Sighting Using the iNaturalist App
For the remainder of the 2024 season, you can continue to submit using our previous channels
Submit Your Sighting Online Here
FrogWatch Ontario is part of the national initiative, FrogWatch Canada, administered by Naturewatch. Adopt-A-Pond is the provincial coordinator of the program. FrogWatch Ontario is a partnership between Toronto Zoo's Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, NatureWatch, the David Suzuki Foundation, Nature Canada, the University of Ottawa, and Wilfrid Laurier University.
You can listen for frog and toad calls in the spring and summer and help to save amphibians in Ontario! Adopt-A-Pond can help you learn to identify frogs visually and by their calls using our online resources! Contact Adopt-A-Pond to receive a hard copy of our FrogWatch Ontario Package or see our on-line Amphibians of Ontario guide to learn more about the frogs in your area. All data collected online is shared with the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).
Why should I participate?
Over time, trends in Frogwatch observations may detect measurable climatic change in Ontario! Frogwatch data also contributes to scientific databases on frog distributions in Ontario.
- Frogwatch Observations help scientists:
- track climate change using phenology (the study of times of recurring natural phenomena) data
- identify positive and negative population trends
- learn about range and distribution of frogs and toads (especially in the northern extent of known ranges)
- It's a fun, easy family or community activity which can lead to protection of wetland habitat & species
How do I participate?
Follow these 4 easy steps to become a FrogWatcher!
- Learn frog calls and how to how to identify frogs using our species guides here
- Join the FrogWatch Ontario project by registering for an account on iNaturalist.ca
- Go out, look, and listen for frogs and toads!
(FrogWatchers are encouraged to monitor for 15 minutes at least three times a week, but even a single observation is useful!) - Record and submit your observations!
Ontario Turtle tally is a fun, easy turtle monitoring project for people of all ages. It's a great activity for schools, families, cottagers, and community and naturalist groups across the province
Report your turtle sightings by entering your observations into our on-line database.
The purpose is to collect, record and store location and species information on Ontario turtles, including species at risk. Turtles are most often seen in June when they are traveling to reach their nesting sites. Adopt-A-Pond can help you learn to identify turtles by using our online resources! Contact Adopt-A-Pond to receive a hard copy of our Ontario Turtle Tally Package or see our on-line Turtles of Ontario guide to learn to identify the turtles in your area. All data collected online is shared with the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).
Why should I participate?
- To help scientists increase understanding of turtle distribution and ranges
- Information on turtle species and location is useful to identify areas of concern and threats to turtles
- To learn more about the threats facing turtles in Ontario and around the world
- To have fun!
How do I participate?
Follow these 4 easy steps to become a Turtle Tallier!
- Learn how to identify turtles using our species guides here
- Join the Ontario Turtle Tally project by registering for an account on iNaturalist.ca
- Go out and look for turtles!
- Record and submit your observations!
Please note that red-eared sliders are not native to Ontario. Please let us know if you found a slider by leaving a comment in the "Additional Comments" box on the sighting submission form!
If you have a turtle question that needs an immediate answer please email us directly at
