Terrestrial frogs and toads typically hibernate on land. At times, they may even slowly swim around. They spend most of the winter lying on top of the bottom’s mud or partially buried in mud. They settle on the lake bottom in deep water and stay concealed behind a log or other debris to escape predators.Īquatic frogs hibernate under water and take in oxygen from the water through their skin. Northern leopard frogs, for example, pass the winter at the bottom of deeper lakes, far beneath the ice. When spring arrives, they wake up and leave the hibernaculum, immediately ready for mating and eating! I guess they are pretty energized after that long winter’s nap!ĭifferent species of frogs and toads have different strategies. They “sleep” away the winter by slowing down their metabolism their heartbeats and breathing slows and their body temperature drops to nearly match the outside temperature as they pass the time in a state of dormancy. So instead, they find a living space called a hibernaculum that will protect them from weather extremes and predators. While most of us would pack our bags and move to Florida, that’s a pretty long way to travel for frogs and toads. Now that it is getting colder, I have been wondering what actually happens to these guys once the cold weather settles in. My two terriers are great fans of this little guy! One has taken up residence under my grill for at least three years now. I have a number of toads in my back yard every year. I have always had a bit of a fetish for frogs and toads.

(Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute) During the winter, amphibians such as the American toad burrow deep into the soil, safely below the frost line.

Which frogs hibernate