Froglife

Leaping forward for reptiles and amphibians

You are here: Home / Archives for advice

advice

Amphibian winterkill and how to prevent it

by

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. 

 

Autumn Advice for Amphibians & Reptiles

by

As the days begin to shorten and night time temperatures fall, amphibians and reptiles will start to look for places to spend the winter. Amphibians, such as common toads, frogs and newts will seek out secluded places to spend the colder months. They will often enter gardens and find their way into piles of leaves, loose soil, areas of long grass and other dense scrub or vegetation. Amphibians will commonly enter gardens in the autumn even if there is not a pond nearby. Most species will move several hundred metres from their breeding ponds in search of suitable terrestrial habitats. Therefore, if you come across an amphibian whilst tidying up your garden in the autumn, do not be concerned.

Loose soil is ideal for common toads, frogs and newts which will bury themselves up to a depth of 30 cm beneath the surface.

By early October most of our reptile species will have entered their winter hibernation. The majority of the UKs reptile species will have favoured hibernating sites but some, particularly slow-worms, common lizards and grass snakes, will make use of piles of dead logs, leaves or compost for the winter. It is important that reptiles are not disturbed during their hibernation period since it takes them longer to recover if they have to become active.

Long grass and dense scrub is ideal for hibernating common lizards.

 Here are some actions you can take this autumn to help amphibians and reptiles in your garden:

  • Leave piles of leaves in a secluded area of your garden for amphibians, grass snakes and slow-worms to seek refuge and hibernate.
  • Avoid burning and disturbing piles of dead leaves and other vegetation – these are ideal habitat for amphibians and reptiles to spend the winter months.
  • Provide areas of loose soil which amphibians will bury into and spend the winter. Being able to bury beneath the frost zone is important for their winter survival.
  • Leave some dense long grass or shrubs in your garden for amphibians and common lizards to seek refuge.
  • Loose paving slabs and wooden boards are ideal for amphibians – leave these on top of loose soil to provide the best habitat.
  • Avoid too much tidying up of your garden – some wilder areas will provide very suitable habitats for amphibians and reptiles.
  • Try building a hibernacula: pile up logs and stones, then add soil to fill in the gaps (see below). You can even bury these into the ground and plant flowers in the soil on top. Click here to find our activity sheet on how to do this. 

Remember to visit our FAQ’s pages and our Info & Advice pages for even more information about our native species and their habitats. 

This hibernacula will be very suitable for a range of amphibian and reptile species including common frogs, toads, newts and grass snakes.

 

Hot Weather Warning – Amphibians & Reptiles

by

Hot Weather Warning – Amphibians & Reptiles

Many people are enjoying the sizzling heat and sun that has now arrived in the UK. It is important to note that these extreme temperatures pose a risk to some of our UK wildlife. Our UK amphibian species struggle in high temperatures, particularly the tiny froglets and toadlets that are just emerging from their tadpole phase.

The most obvious and useful way to help these animals is to #BuildAPond, giving these animals and other wildlife ready access to water, for drinking and bathing. But building a pond doesn’t have to be a big nor expensive endeavour, and small ponds (e.g. bucket-sized) can be just as effective. Read more about building a pond with our FREE online guide Just Add Water check out our activity sheets in our Idea Zone. 

In these heat extremes, a quick 2-minute job of putting out a small container or dish filled with fresh water will also help wildlife in your garden. If it’s a deep dish, don’t forget to add in a ramp or some stones to allow any animals that may fall in to have a way to climb out. It is best to fill with water from a water butt rather than the tap, if you have one. However, if tap water is your only source, remember to leave it standing in a bucket for at least 24 hours so any chemicals can dissipate and the temperature can balance out. 

Frogs, toads, birds and hedgehogs all eat small invertebrates like worms, which in this hot weather burrow deeper down into the dry soils. With this in mind, it is important to keep plants and soils damp to allow these predators to access their vital food source.

Pond with low water levels and dried soil (Photo: Richard Donoyou)

In addition to adding water into your outdoor space, keeping areas wild and sheltered can potentially save amphibian lives. Rockeries and log piles both provide shade to amphibians in the garden, where often the soil beneath will remain damp and the temperature much cooler that the outside.

Even reptiles, like common lizards and grass snakes that can often be found basking in the sun, need shaded areas for relief from high temperatures. So log piles and rockeries are equally important for these animals to escape from the sun’s rays.