Since frogs and toads are cold-blooded they can’t generate their own body heat like mammals and birds do. So when the temperature outside drops they have to find a way to keep from freezing. Some species of frogs and toads burrow underground where the soil is warmer and spend the winter dormant or inactive. This process called brumation is similar to hibernation in mammals.
During brumation frogs and toads may not eat or drink for several months. They slow their heartbeat and metabolism and their body temperature drops to match the surrounding temperature. When spring arrives and the weather warms up they come out of brumation and return to their active lives.
Not all frogs and toads hibernate though. Some species like the wood frog spend the winter buried in leaf litter or wooded areas where the temperature is just above freezing. The wood frog’s body actually freezes solid during winter but its blood continues to circulate and it can revive and resume normal activity when the weather warms up.
Other frogs and toads like the African frog take refuge in trees or other elevated areas during the cold months. They stay relatively active although they may not eat much.
Still other species of frogs and toads like the Common Frog don’t migrate or hibernate at all. They remain active all year long even in cold climates. They burrow into mud at the bottom of ponds or streams to stay warm and emerge when the weather warms up.
So whether they burrow into the ground take refuge in trees or stay active all year long frogs and toads have evolved different ways to survive the cold winter months.
How long do frogs and toads hibernate?
Up to seven months
Do frogs and toads hibernate every year?
No they typically only hibernate when the weather conditions are right.
What do frogs and toads eat during hibernation?
They eat nothing! They absorb any food they have stored in their bodies before hibernation begins.
How do frogs and toads keep from freezing during hibernation?
They produce a glycerol solution that keeps their bodies from freezing.
Where do frogs and toads go to hibernate?
They typically find a cool damp place underground.
How do frogs and toads know when to hibernate?
They use cues from the weather like shorter days and cooler temperatures to know when to begin hibernating.
Do all frogs and toads hibernate?
No many species of frogs and toads do not hibernate.
Why do some frogs and toads not hibernate?
Some species are not well-suited to hibernation while others live in places where the conditions are never right for hibernation.
What happens to frogs and toads that don’t hibernate?
They typically just stay active all year long.
How do frogs and toads wake up from hibernation?
They use cues from the weather like warmer temperatures and longer days to know when to wake up from hibernation.
What do frogs and toads do when they first wake up from hibernation?
They typically mate and then begin looking for food.
Do frogs and toads eat different things in the spring than they do the rest of the year?
No they eat the same things all year long.
How do frogs and toads know when it’s time to mate?
They use cues from the weather like warmer temperatures and longer days to know when it’s time to mate.
How often do frogs and toads mate?
They typically mate once a year.
What do frogs and toads do after they mate?
The female frogs lay eggs and the male frogs fertilize them.
Then both parents typically leave the area.
