‘The Evergreen’: Portland’s ‘frog taxi’ helps amphibians cross the road

The resident reg-legged frogs that live in Portland’s Forest Park have a dangerous migration route to and from their spawning grounds at Harborton Wetland. Twice a year, they must get across the high-speed road known as U.S. Highway 30. For many years, the frogs’ human neighbors have intervened on their behalf by providing a shuttle or "taxi" to the other side. But is there a better solution? — Red-legged frogs cross a busy Portland highway with help from the “Frog Taxi.”
*Oregon Zoo*

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There’s a population of Northern red-legged frogs that make their home in Portland’s Forest Park. In late winter and early spring, they come down to the nearby Harborton wetland to breed. There’s only one problem: the frogs have to cross Highway 30 to get from Forest Park to the wetland and back. About 10 years ago, a local resident saw the road covered with the bodies of frogs who had tried to cross during the night and gotten squished. They alerted some friends and neighbors and that’s how the Harborton Frog Shuttle, also lovingly known as the “frog taxi” came to be. Teams of dedicated volunteers are on-call from late winter to early spring and when the conditions are right for the frogs, they come out with their buckets and headlamps to help the amphibians cross the road safely.

OPB “Oregon Field Guide” producer Jule Gilfillan and OPB cinematographer/editor Brooke Herbert tagged along with the frog taxi volunteers. They join us to share a bit about the experience. And you can see their video here.

Listen to all episodes of The Evergreen podcast here.

‘The Evergreen’: Portland’s ‘frog taxi’ helps amphibians cross the road

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