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Ponds
are largely silent in winter, with little plant growth and
almost no movement from the depths.
Common
frogs are the only larger animal that might be visible. Male
frogs lie dormant on the bottom of the pond and on sunnier days
you might see them occasionally stir.
The biggest threat to pond animals in winter comes from ice.
Prolonged freezing stops gases from moving in and out of the
pond, leaving the water susceptible to a build-up of toxic gases
and chemicals released as animal and plant matter continues to
decompose. This can seriously damage the pond ecosystem,
affecting a number of animals (not least frogs, which can die of
so-called ‘winterkill’).
To avoid this, we recommend making holes in the ice during
frosty weather, though it's unclear how much this actually
benefits the frogs during very cold winters. You can make a hole
by leaving a pan of hot water on the ice surface to melt a hole.
Alternatively leave a ball floating in the water the previous
day, and remove this once the pond has iced over. Never use
salt, antifreeze or chemicals. Don’t be tempted to smash the ice
either - the shock-waves can kill wildlife and ice shards could
puncture the liner.
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