• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Froglife

Leaping forward for reptiles and amphibians

  • Events
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • Sightings
  • Cart
  • About Us
    • Organisational structure
    • Froglife Scotland
    • Staff
    • Trustees
    • Our strategy
    • Our supporters
    • Annual reviews and accounts
    • Job vacancies
    • Contact us
  • What we do
    • Events
    • Education
      • Come Forth for Wildlife
      • Fife Living Waters
      • Transforming Lives: Froglife Trainees
      • Green Pathways
      • Green Pathways for Life
      • Leapfrog Schools
      • London Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
      • Yorkshire Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
      • Discovering Reptiles
    • Improving habitats
      • Froglife reserves
      • London Blue Chain
      • Coalface to Wildspace, Midlands
      • Discovering Dewponds
      • Come Forth for Wildlife
      • London Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
      • Yorkshire Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
    • Toads on Roads
    • Campaigns and Policy
    • Research
    • Digital Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
    • Webinars
    • Virtual Reality Experience
  • Froglife Ecological Services
    • About FES
    • Training
    • FES Services
    • Research
    • Survey Calendar
  • Info & advice
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Reptiles and Amphibians
    • Our publications
    • Reports and research
    • Land management
  • Idea Zone
    • Pond Visualiser App
    • Fun and games
    • Education resources
    • Wildlife at home
    • Wildlife gardening
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Other Ways to Donate
    • Fundraise for us
    • Become a Froglife Friend
    • Legacies, in memory & celebrations
    • Become a corporate sponsor
    • Volunteer
  • What’s new
    • Events
    • Latest News and Croaks
    • Natterchat Magazine
You are here: Home / Archives for weather

weather

Cold Weather Forecast

March 16, 2018 by admin

This weekend (17-18th March) another cold spell of weather has been forecast by the Met Office with further outbreaks of snow and widespread freezing conditions. By now, many common frogs, common toads as well as newts will have made their way to breeding ponds and are at risk from sudden periods of cold weather. Adults in ponds, as well as those migrating towards breeding areas, are prone to winterkill which has already caused a high incidence of mortality in common frogs this year. In addition, spawn laid by common frogs and toads is prone to freezing in hard frosts. Reptiles are at less of a risk since the majority have not yet emerged from hibernation and breeding does not commence until later in the year.

To help common frogs and toads during periods of cold weather there are a few actions that you can take. First, if you have a garden pond, periodically break any ice on the surface to promote oxygen exchange. This will allow amphibians to survive in the water beneath the ice. Second, you can try floating a small object e.g. tennis ball, in the water which prevents ice formation. However, this only works in moderate frosts and in severely cold weather, breaking the ice is the only option. Third, provide piles of leaves or areas of dense vegetation and scrub close to your garden pond as this will provide areas for amphibians to take refuge during periods of cold weather. 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 water and place in a garage, or similar place, out of the freezing conditions. Once the cold weather has passed, ensure that you return the spawn to the original place within the same pond to allow it to continue to develop.

NB: The majority of reptiles have not yet emerged from hibernation

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Amphibians, cold, frogs, frost, snow, spawn, toads, weather, winterkill

Footer

  • About Us
  • What we do
  • Info & advice
  • Learning zone
  • Support Us
  • What’s new
  • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Events
  • Become a Friend
  • Our supporters
  • Privacy Information

Contact us

Froglife (Head Office)
Brightfield Business Hub
Bakewell Road
Peterborough
PE2 6XU
info@froglife.org

© 2023 · Froglife

Froglife is a Campaign title for The Froglife Trust
Registered Charity No. 1093372 (in England and Wales) and SC041854 (in Scotland)
Registered Company No. 4382714 in England and Wales

Paper Rhino logo