Toad Fest is an annual tradition at Summit lake near Nakusp.
Visitors gather to help hundreds of thousands of tiny western toads migrate across a local highway.
However, the unique event will be a little different this year as many of the tiny amphibians aren’t ready to cross the road.
Those tiny tails mean the vast majority of toadlets are not far enough along in their lifecycles for the mass migration.
One of the key goals of the event is to teach people more about the tiny amphibians. So while visitors won’t be helping as many toads cross the road this year, they can still spot tadpoles massing on the shore of Summit Lake, see their predators in action and learn more about the toads.
Toad Fest will wrap up at noon on Thursday.
The mass migration of toads is expected to happen just a few days after the festival finishes.
The western toad has become a political issue in the Summit Lake area. An organization owned by the Village of Nakusp has plans to log in the region and some worry that could impact the toads.
Loggers say they won’t be logging cut blocks this summer, in part because of a larger number of young toads.
But they defend the logging saying precautions will be taken to protect the toads as part of their operations.