A toad detour? Yes, it's true - in Upper Roxborough, Philadelphia, a Toad Detour went into effect for the third year in a row as American toads begin their journey to the Roxborough Reservoir for mating season. Every year, between March and April, thousands of toads awaken from their winter hibernation and begin the dangerous trek across busy highways and roads and face certain death from traffic. One car can kill hundreds of toads crossing the highway. To protect the toads, volunteers have received special permits to close off sections of those streets to enable the toads to cross safely. Volunteers work at the barricades and re-route traffic. Only local traffic is allowed through. Last year, over a hundred volunteers saved thousands of toads and thousands of toadlets (yes, apparently, that is what baby toads are called: toadlets). The offspring of the first toads saved by the volunteers in 2009 are old enough to mate this year and will join in the migration towards the Roxborough Resevoir. I find it incredible that the volunteers were able to convince city officials to block off busy roads and streets in order to save migrating toads. Dedicated volunteers helping Mother Nature . . . it's a good thing!
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