One
of our patrons, who has in the past been concerned about how deer and birds
stay warm, was recently concerned about how the tree frogs and peepers around
their house make it through the winter. We found the answer in Frogs: A Chorus of Colors by John L. Behler and Deborah A. Behler and a Scietific American article helpfully titled “How do frogs survive winter? Why don’tthey freeze to death?” that cites Rick Emmer, a former zookeeper at the
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
While
aquatic frogs will hibernate in the water, resting on the mud, and toads will
burrow beneath the frost line, peepers can’t dig as well. They’ll find cracks
and crevices to nestle down in, or find old leaves to hide under. When the
weather gets cold, though, these can’t protect them from freezing. Fortunately,
some frogs have found a way to adapt. As temperatures gradually dip, their
bodies become saturated with glucose, which acts as an antifreeze protecting
their vital organs. The rest of their bodies freeze, their hearts stop beating,
and they stop breathing. Once the weather is warm again, they thaw and return
to life.
