Spadefoots need social distancing

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter OSOYOOS — The Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship is asking locals to remember that sometimes animals need to socially distance too, in order to survive.

The Stewardship is reminding local residents that spadefoots, a unique species related to frogs and toads, are on the move at this time of year and can often end up in places they shouldn’t be.

“Spadefoots often stumble into places that aren’t safe for them, like swimming pools, window wells, garages, or irrigation boxes,” said Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship in an emailed statement.

This often happens on rainy, spring nights when temperatures are comfortable for spadefoots to seek out ponds and puddles for breeding. But if found, the Stewardship is asking people not to take them to a nearby pond. Spadefoot are often infected with a fungal disease called chytrid, which is highly contagious and deadly for other amphibians.

“So, just like we take COVID-19 precautions and avoid moving much outside our bubble, it is also important that amphibians aren’t moved too far out of their bubble either,” said the Stewardship’s statement.

The Stewardship is recommending that people simply move the creatures out of harm’s way if they come across a spadefoot, salamander, or other amphibian this spring. The animals will continue on their way if left alone.

They also recommend reducing pesticide use, never spraying when rain is forecast, and adding devices to help small animals like the spadefoot escape if they end up in backyard pools.