Project Showcase: Shane Lake Amphibian Migration Project (SLAM)
Sep 10, 2026
You can join the journey on Instagram @slamprojectpg.
The SLAM project is featured on the Wilder Insights podcast by Michael Bryden as "Making Change and Western Toad Conservation with Ashley Sutherland" (https://youtu.be/H0xm-lWlHaM?si=rwUELA13FGMMWg8d) and on CFUR radio as "Shane Lake Amphibian Migration Project SLAMs stickers across Prince George to raise funds — CFURadio 88.7 FM" (https://cfur.ca/cfur-blog/2026/4/2/shane-lake-amphibian-migration-project-slams-stickers-across-prince-george-to-raise-funds).
Project Summary – Shane Lake Amphibian Migration Project
In 2025, the Shane Lake Amphibian Migration (SLAM) Project was founded by Ashley Sutherland, with the goal of drawing attention to amphibian presence in a very popular recreation area in Prince George, BC. An aspect of the project is data collection via citizen science (iNaturalist) and a routine paid surveyor. The intent of data collection is to identify key locations where amphibian migration corridors intersect with a very busy recreational trail. This allows for targeted installation of trail bridging structures and/or safe passage corridors for amphibians, with the hope of mitigating much of the unnecessary mortality due to trampling by trail users. In addition to surveys, UNBC’s Active Minds Program, a youth summer day camp, will be collaborating with SLAM in 2026 to deliver amphibian education to their students at Shane Lake.
The goals are to educate the public, and to raise awareness regarding the vulnerabilities of amphibians and their habitats in public spaces. The 2025 survey data have helped to identify concentrated migration corridors (Figure 1). I am hoping for two more seasons worth of data collection, combined with funding for the collaboration with Active Minds. Several migration corridor regions of the trail have already been identified. Trail bridging structures will be installed in some smaller sections to begin saving amphibians from trampling. In addition to data collection, signage was also installed in 2025 to raise awareness for SLAM. Society for Ecosystem Restoration in Northern BC (SERNbc) and Aleza Lake Research Forest Society, and CNC Research Forest are the main project sponsors to date, along with support in principle from UNBC, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, local clubs, and many other individual professionals in the region.
Status & Project Importance
As per the Canadian Herpetological Society, amphibians and reptiles, collectively, are the most threatened vertebrate group on Earth. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as of 2008, 42% of amphibian species showed evidence of decline, and 32% were globally threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable categories) or extinct (IUCN amphibian assessment). The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assesses the conservation status of species in Canada. Sadly, the status of amphibian and reptile species is even worse in Canada than it is globally. As of December 2016, 44% of amphibian species and subspecies have been listed as Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern by COSEWIC. The major threats that are responsible for historic and ongoing amphibian and reptile declines in Canada include habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, chemical contamination and other environmental pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Above freezing temperatures and mid-winter rain events put these species at risk of increased mortality due to a potentially interrupted brumation (amphibian and reptile version of hibernation). Reference: https://canadianherpetology.ca/species/decline.html.
Prior to summer 2025, there was no formal data on amphibian use of the trail systems and associated mortality due to human trampling (aside from anecdotal accounts) as far as the SLAM team is aware. Baseline information on the number of amphibians using trails is essential to determining the areas and times of year when they are most at risk of being trampled. This data will help inform future protective measures. The program is founded on the belief that public education and awareness are key to implementing change. A priority of SLAM is to increase public awareness regarding the presence and vulnerabilities of amphibians, with the intent that education and outreach will assist the project in gaining momentum, resulting in a public desire for change. The hope is that as education spreads and momentum builds, community members, local organizations, and governments will gain a desire to increase protective measures towards amphibians and not just limited to the program area. The close proximity of this greenspace to Prince George, combined with its high use by the public, make this project area an ideal candidate to investigate human-wildlife interactions, implement impact prevention measures, and to provide nature-focused education.
If your organization would like to be on the CoP organizing team, please get in touch with one of us through our organizations, or reach out to Mae directly.
The Community of Practice Organizing Team, representing: Society for Ecosystem Restoration in Northern BC (SERNbc), Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) via the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), and the BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF).
