Spring peeper or bull frog?

The next time you hear frogs, listen very carefully.

If you can discern one frog's high-pitched trill from another's coarse snore, then you might want to consider volunteering as a frog monitor.

If not, well, you can learn to discern the calls of many different frogs in the Chicago area -- and help the environment at the same time.

Each spring, the Lake County Forest Preserve District trains volunteers both young and old to become frog monitors in the region and listen to various species of frog and toad calls.

Volunteers are asked to do training prior to monitoring and to donate a few hours each week during the spring to learn how to discern the range of calls. CDs with call sounds and voice descriptions of the calls are given to volunteers during training sessions.

Monitoring begins this month. However, different frogs call at different temperatures.

"Right now the frogs are hibernating," said volunteer coordinator Tom Smith, although some species were heard in late winter due to the fact that some frogs are more resistant to the cold temperatures than others.

The majority of monitoring will be done in April and May. Frog monitors will go out on trails in groups to record calls.

Last year, the monitoring program brought out approximately 30 volunteers including children, who were welcomed to participate as long as they were accompanied by an adult. This activity can motivate families to go outside and enjoy nature, while doing something productive and learning about the environment.

Croaks from these slippery amphibians are more than just mating calls, they help inform conservationists of the surrounding environment and help determine populations of species of frogs and toads.

Volunteers help environmentalists determine which species of frogs are not calling, allowing them to verify possible reasons.

"If we are not hearing them or if some of the species disappeared, then we would like to know why that happened," said Smith.

According to Smith, there are 13 types of frogs and toads in the Chicago area, each having a unique call.

Although the bulk of the training has already taken place, Smith said those interested might be able to get into a session later this month at the College of Lake County. Or, a person could be paired with an experienced monitor for the training.

For more information about the program, call Smith at (847) 968-3329.