A New Lease on Life for the Chorus Frog in the Outaouais Thanks to Parc Oméga

A New Lease on Life for the Chorus Frog in the Outaouais Thanks to Parc Oméga

This summer, more than 350 young chorus frogs raised at Parc Oméga’s facilities were released into their natural habitat in the Luskville and Gatineau areas. The initiative is part of the first breeding and rearing program for the Western Chorus Frog in the Outaouais.

Once common in southern Quebec, this amphibian’s survival is now threatened due to habitat loss. Launched this spring, the innovative conservation project is a collaboration between the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP), Parc Oméga and its Foundation. Its goal is to support local populations and help ensure the frog’s survival in its natural environment.

Léonie Chevrier, biologist and conservation project manager at Parc Oméga, provided more details:

Though tiny, the Western Chorus Frog plays a crucial role in its ecosystem. As an insect-eater, it helps regulate insect populations — including mosquitoes — and serves as an important food source for several predators, thus maintaining balance in the food chain.

The project’s objectives are to:

• Support declining local frog populations;

• Contribute to the preservation of this threatened species in Quebec;

• Strengthen conservation efforts in the Outaouais by relying on science and collaboration.