Every year in early summer when the weather starts to warm up, a rural road in the community of Ryder Lake in Chilliwack, BC starts moving. Tiny dark spots cover the road like a carpet. Fingernail-sized juvenile western toads have begun their migration – from the wetlands where they were born to the forest where they live. For the toadlets, the journey is hazardous. Many of them will never get to the other side of the road.

Local Chilliwack resident Steve Clegg grew up with toads – catching tadpoles in his parents’ pond, stumbling upon juveniles in his garden and gradually learning to look after species at risk in his backyard. Clegg and a group of local residents became concerned about the toads’ plight and looked for ways to help the species survive in an environment where urban development is taking over.

Produced by the Wilderness Committee, Toad People tells the story of people like Steve Clegg and and other families and communities who are taking action to save the wildlife in their backyard, whether it’s toads, mountain caribou, rattlesnakes or barn owls.

** Please click here for the 76 minute version of this program. **