Shutting down a road for... frogs? The unique effort in Waterford



VILLAGE OF WATERFORD (WITI) -- Road closed for...frogs? It sounds a little strange, but it's a unique plan to help with a massive frog migration in the Village of Waterford.

Every year, thousands of frogs make their way to the river -- and for years, it has meant crossing a very busy road.

"It's a small town, but there's a lot of traffic on (North Jefferson Street)," Terry Alby of Waterford said.

The traffic on North Jefferson Street will soon come to a halt -- for just one night.

It's all in an effort to help the frogs.

When the moment is right, thousands of frogs will make a great journey from a small pond to a river.

"We're just going to shut the road off and enjoy the frogs," Alby said.

"They crawl or hop right over the road. They're from like, little gravel pee-wee size to large bullfrogs," Tom Cerny of Waterford said.

Every year, cars on North Jefferson Road halt hundreds of these frogs on their long trek.

"People are going by and there's frogs, hundreds of them at a time, jumping across the road. I have estimates of well over a thousand through a night and they're getting killed," Alby said.

This year, Alby and Cerny have asked the Village of Waterford to help the frogs along the way. Part of the road will be closed to make migration safe.

"I have the people in town prepared to bring out barricades and help us out with everything," Alby said.

"It should take like all night. Possibly 10 hours," Cerny said.

It's a small gesture to help with a big journey.

"They're great little creatures. I think a lot of people like frogs. They're harmless. They are very helpful. They eat mosquitoes. They are good for the environment in a lot of ways and they should be saved," Alby said.

The Village of Waterford is hoping to make this a sort of attraction. They are inviting people out to watch the migration. The only problem is -- no one knows the exact moment this will happen, so it takes a lot of patience.