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Amphibian winterkill and how to prevent it

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Written by Jade Walton, Transforming Lives Trainee

As the weather gets colder, it becomes increasingly likely your garden wildlife pond will freeze over. Though at first thought this may not seem like much of an issue, this can be dangerous for the wildlife beneath the surface.

Whilst newts and toads tend to find other places to brumate (a process akin to hibernation), some frogs will choose to overwinter amongst the silt at the bottom of a pond. In regular conditions, this poses no threat to the frog, but should the pond freeze over for a prolonged period, it can become deadly.

It is thought the death of frogs overwintering in ponds is likely caused by a lack of oxygen in the water as sunlight is unable to reach plants and algae, making them unable to photosynthesise and oxygenate the water. Another theory is that gases are expelled by dead plant matter within the pond as it decomposes which are blocked from escaping into the air via the surface of the water. This may lead to a deadly build up of these toxic gases, causing ‘winterkill.

There are some ways, however, that you can minimise the risk of winterkill in your own pond. Make sure to brush any snow from the surface of your pond to give sunlight the chance to hit the ice. It is also thought to be a good idea to ensure there is always a hole in the ice to ensure gases can escape. This can be done by floating a tennis ball in your pond, preventing it from icing over fully, or by putting a container of hot water upon the ice to melt a hole in it.

It is not good practice to create a hole in the ice by force as the physical shock can harm the wildlife beneath, also be sure not to use chemicals or pour hot water directly onto the ice as this too can have a harmful impact on pond wildlife. And, of course, be sure that, when conducting these preventative measures, you do this in a safe, controlled manner.

With your help, the risk of winterkill in amphibians can likely be reduced in just a couple of steps.

Find more tips on what you can do for amphibians and reptiles this winter here. 

 

World Volunteer Day

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Written by Kaitlin Oliver, Transforming Lives Trainee

scottish volunteersVolunteers play a big part in the world of conservation. Without volunteers many nature reserves wouldn’t be where they are today. December 5th is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the efforts of volunteers worldwide and to promote the value of volunteerism.

Volunteering is a fantastic way of connecting to the community and making a difference, especially in conservation. Not only are you helping nature and all its inhabitants, but volunteering can also benefit you personally in a multitude of ways. Being out in nature can significantly improve your mental health, as well as be a great source of exercise. Making friends and being social with others allows you to integrate yourself as an important member of the community and volunteering in conservation is a good entryway for getting a job in the sector.

There are lots of different ways you could give your time to help us in our mission to protect amphibians and reptiles! Froglife has multiple volunteering opportunities across the country with different projects needing help. We aim to make volunteering with us as fun and rewarding as possible, so that you get as much out of it as the wildlife you are helping.

We at Froglife express endless gratitude to their volunteers, share success stories, and highlight the diverse ways in which volunteers make a difference. Froglife is extremely proud of all their volunteers and the work that they’ve achieved.

Find more information about volunteering with us here.

 

 

World Soil Day

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Written by Nathan Gardner, Transforming Lives Trainee

December 5th is World Soil Day!

World Soil Day was designated by the United Nations, as recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences, as a day dedicated to raising awareness and recognizing the importance that healthy soil plays in sustainable life.

The relationship between soil and water is incredibly co-dependent, with healthy soil promoting water infiltration and retention, which then provides the foundation for efficient food production and ecosystems. The domino effect that leads to a healthy ecosystem starts (literally!) from the ground up; nutrient-rich soil allows for cleaner ponds that are home to a diverse range of invertebrates that are predated on by amphibians who are then predated by reptiles.

Froglife urges our readers to recognize and help spread awareness of the impact that soil degradation is having upon our native amphibians and reptiles. If not for healthy soil, the ecosystem that our native amphibians and reptiles rely on would suffer greatly, and, as we witness populations drastically decline over previous years, they are already at risk. Habitat loss, from woodland destruction to water polluted by waste, is the most prominent risk that all native wildlife species face. We can all take the day to spread this message and keep our native wildlife in mind when taking actions to improve the quality of British soil.

Please visit the information page on the United Nations website at: www.un.org/en/observances/world-soil-day to get fully informed and access the list of available initiatives and activities.

Make a ‘Frogflake’

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Making snowflakes is a fun way to decorate a space for winter, and all you really need is paper and a pair of scissors. But what if your snowflake could be frogs instead? In fact, you could make any animal into a snowflake!

1. Take an A4 piece of paper and fold a corner by lining the short edge with the long edge.

2. Remove the rectangular section to leave a triangular shape

3. Fold the triangle in half to make a smaller triangle

4. Fold the triangle into thirds (this may take some trial and error, or you can use a protractor to measure three 30° angles).

5. Cut off the top to make a flat edge.

6. Draw your design on the remaining space. Make sure the image connects on multiple points of both sides, or your snowflake will fall apart!

7. Carefully cut out your design with scissors. Tools like hole punches are useful for cutting out clean circles.

8. Unfold your cutout to see your final snowflake!

Reptiles and Amphibians in Winter: #WinterWildGardening

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Winter is traditionally a quieter time in the garden, but this is in fact the busiest time of year for habitat management for reptiles and amphibians. As the temperature drops, these animals become dormant, making it safer to clear out ponds and build shelters causing as little disturbance as possible.

For our winter campaign #WinterWildGardening, we have put together some tips and tricks on how you can make our species lives a little bit easier in your gardens and green spaces.

 

How to tackle icy ponds:  

If you have a garden pond, the colder weather can cause it to freeze. The best thing to do is to periodically sweep away any snow so that sunlight can reach your pond plants and produce oxygen. This will help to prevent ‘Winterkill’ which is caused by toxic gases released in the pond (through natural decomposition of dead leaves) and not being able to escape, causing the water to become deoxygenated.

Melting a hole in the ice won’t necessarily affect the amount of oxygen diffusing into the water, but there is no harm in playing it safe! You can gently melt any ice with a cup or pan full of hot water to allow more active animals like newts to move to the surface to breathe.

You can also try floating a small object, e.g., a tennis ball, in the water or keep your fountain going (if you have one) to prevent ice formation.

If you have frog spawn, the upper portions may freeze, but the spawn which is underwater should survive. However, if you have a very small pond and/or it is shallow and prone to freezing throughout, you can temporarily place your frog spawn into a bucket of pond water and place in a garage, or similar place, out of the freezing conditions. 

Remember that moving spawn to other ponds risks spreading disease, so once the cold weather has passed, ensure that you return the spawn to the same pond to allow it to continue to develop.

 

Creating overwintering sites:

Something as simple as a pile of leaves or areas of dense vegetation and scrub close to your garden pond will provide areas for amphibians to take refuge during periods of cold weather.

Log piles and rockeries are another simple idea to provide our species with somewhere to see out the winter months. As well as providing cover from adverse weather, dead wood attracts insects on which reptiles and amphibians will feed.

If you want to go further, you can build a hibernaculum. You can find instructions on how to do this here.  

If you don’t have space to create a hibernaculum, you could consider a toad home. These can be made simply by upturning a plant pot and knocking a hole in the side for a door. Place old leaves or grass inside your toad home for extra protection. You can find instructions on how to build one here.

hibernacula

 

What to do if you disturb a reptile or amphibian during winter:

Reptiles and amphibians lie dormant during the coldest months but will take advantage of milder patches of weather to come out and forage. For this reason, if you do disturb an animal in winter, it should be unharmed if covered up and left undisturbed.

If you are unable to put the animal back where you found it, place it somewhere that offers protection from frost and predators like cats and birds, for example, log piles, under a shed or within your compost heap. It should not be somewhere ‘warm’, just a place that is frost free.

If you spot any of our species out and about, please remember to record them on our free Dragon Finder App. Data from the Dragon Finder App is crucial going forward to monitor the relationship between temperature changes and the behaviours of reptiles and amphibians in the UK.

If you spot any sick or injured reptiles or amphibians, please report them to our partners on the Garden Wildlife Health project.  

 common frog

Further Resources:

For more information on how you can help reptiles and amphibians during winter, check out….

 

The Healing Power of Nature: Exploring the Impact of Nature Prescriptions on Mental Health

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Written by Jackie Edwards

“Nature itself is the best physician,” said Hippocrates, evidencing the extent to which people have always relied on nature for their mental health. Hippocrates spoke from instinct and observation, but over the past few decades, a plethora of scientific studies have proven him right. One 2022 study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, for instance, found that a one-hour walk in the Great Outdoors reduces stress-related brain activity. Specifically, the central brain region involved in stress processing, the amygdala, is less activated in times of stress among people who live in rural areas. But the good news is that you don’t need to live in the countryside to harness nature’s benefits. Studies have shown that just 10 minutes of time in the midst of nature can make a big difference. A visit to the woods or a park, for instance, does wonders for your state of mind, as does time spent near bodies of water (including ponds, lakes, ditches, and rivers).  So the next time you have a short break, don’t spend it online. Head outside, breathe the air, catch the beauty of local wildlife (such as amphibians and reptiles), and open your senses to the healing benefits of nature.

 

Nature Quells Anxiety

Because nature is a powerful stress buster, it is a great ally for those battling stress and anxiety. A 2021 University of York study, for instance, showed that outdoor nature-based activities can improve mental health problems such as anxiety, as it leads to improved mood and more positive emotions. Gardening, exercise, nature walks, and simply spending time outdoors all weave their magic. The researchers stated that while all these activities are effective in themselves, it seems that doing them in groups leads to even bigger gains in mental health. 

Nature vs Depression

A myriad of studies has also been undertaken on the beneficial effects of nature time for people battling depression. One study focused on the now-popular habit of shinrin-yoku (or forest bathing). If you’re not familiar with shinrin-yoku, know that it’s a simple activity that anyone living near the woods can undertake. It essentially involves visiting a green area and opening your senses to your surroundings. To listen to the chirping of birds or the sound of insects, touch fallen leaves or give a tree hug, take in the beauty of the surroundings, and more. Studies have shown that when it comes to depression, the largest and most consistent improvements are found in forest walks. Nature walks and getaways essentially provide an escape from stressful environments and promote a mindful, relaxed state. 

Nature Is Essential to Human Health

Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences have requested governments and those responsible for planning and architecture, to take the human-nature connection into account. There is a simple equation that is true across all human ages and cultures: access to nature and green environments boosts cognitive function and promote better mental health overall. By contrast, less access to nature is linked to a plethora of problems, including higher rates of anxiety disorders and clinical depression. Nature helps to connect older and younger neighbors, which in turn helps keep depression and loneliness at bay. Age-inclusive communities are increasingly turning to parks and gardens as a means for neighbors of all ages to form connections and friendships and provide a vital source of support to each other. In fact, outdoor spaces are one of the eight elements of authentic age-inclusive communities and they should be prioritized in new and existing developments alike.

Could Green Prescriptions Undermine the Benefits of Nature?

It is indisputable that spending time in green settings benefits mental health, but could formal “green prescriptions” from doctors undermine some of its benefits? The answer seems to be in the affirmative, as found in a study undertaken in 2020 by University of Exeter research. Their findings showed that although pressure from doctors to spend time outdoors could encourage more visits, it could also lessen the positive effects of green time. This means that healthcare professionals and loved ones should be sensitive and subtle when recommending time in nature for people with depression and anxiety. Specifically, they should encourage them to head to green places they already enjoy visiting, and highlight the fascinating benefits of green time, without making it seem like they “must” visit green areas. “Nature cannot be forced on anyone, but must be provided at the individual’s own pace and will,” said researcher, Matilda van del Bosch.

Time in nature is undoubtedly vital to human health. Studies have shown that time spent outdoors can help quell stress, anxiety, and depression. While this is the case, those suggesting this activity to loved ones or patients with mental health issues or high-stress lifestyles should do so subtly, so it does not make them see nature time as a chore or a duty. 

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