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Frog hibernation? #884643

Asked September 09, 2024, 4:35 PM EDT

hi, I have a large plant pot and 2 black containers with water and rocks that the frogs have moved into over the summer. I'm wondering where they go in the winter? The containers are only maybe 8-12" deep, so will freeze once the weather gets cold. I'm hoping the frogs will move out before then. 2 of these containers are in flower beds, so plenty of soil and rocks around them. The 3rd is in less of a garden area, but is around some lily of the valley plants. So where do they go in the winter? Should I set up some little upside planter or will they just burrow somewhere when its time? thanks,

Strafford County New Hampshire

Expert Response

Hello Elaine,

Thanks for reaching out to the UNH Extension Infoline. Once the frogs reach a certain point in their lifecycle, they will move out of your containers and start looking for places to hibernate for the winter. Different species of frogs have different ways of hibernating from digging into the ground and/or leaf litter to finding cracks and crevices in rocks, to letting their bodies almost entirely freeze during the cold months. Frogs are quite fascinating, actually!

Here is a resource if you'd like to learn more-

https://dwr.virginia.gov/blog/where-do-frogs-go-in-the-winter/

Thank you for contacting the Infoline, a service of UNH Cooperative Extension Replied September 10, 2024, 12:34 PM EDT

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