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What our animals are doing this month…

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Written by Jesse Ashman, Green Talent Placement

In December we usually see less of our species as they should be brumating for the winter months. Brumation is similar to the more well-known hibernation, except that they will not become completely dormant and will come out for brief periods of foraging.

With that in mind, what is the common frog doing this month?

Unlike other amphibians, frogs don’t like to travel far and may bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of ponds waiting out the winter for breeding season to arrive again. This strategy keeps them safe from predators, but puts them at risk of lack of oxygen if a pond freezes over completely.

 

A good way to prevent this is to put a ball in your pond before a frost, which will create a small gap in the ice for any amphibians to use to grab some air.

You’re not likely to see many frogs during December, but if you do, it’s because they’ll be making the most of any milder weather to pop up and hunt for bugs.

Being cold-blooded means common frogs are sometimes assumed to prefer cooler weather – this is not true! Frogs need external heat sources like the sun to keep warm and like to come out when it’s warmer.

If you see a common frog in your pond this month don’t forget to record it on the Dragon Finder App so we can monitor their population and behaviours.

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 that 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 at the Garden Wildlife Health project.  

 common frog

Further Resources:

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

 

What our animals are doing this month…

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September: A Key Month for the Adder

As summer draws to a close, September marks a turning point for one of the UK’s most fascinating native reptiles, the adder (Vipera berus). This month brings a shift in their behaviour, with individuals beginning the journey back to their overwintering sites, where they’ll eventually spend the colder months in hibernation.

Heading Home for Winter

From September onwards, adders start moving towards their overwintering locations, places they often return to year after year. These hibernation spots, known as hibernacula, are usually sunny, south-facing embankments that provide shelter from frosts, rain, and predators. Common examples include old mammal burrows, hollow tree stumps, root systems, tussocks, rockeries, and even piles of dead wood.

Once near these sites, the snakes can still be spotted basking in the sun well into late October, only retreating fully when the weather makes it necessary.

September: Prime Adder-Spotting Season

For wildlife enthusiasts, early autumn can be a fantastic time to see adders in the wild. As the days cool, they tend to spend more time basking in open areas during sunny spells. This behaviour helps them regulate their body temperature before the long winter ahead.

Adders are relatively easy to identify thanks to their distinctive features: a bold dark zig-zag pattern along their back, a red iris with a vertical pupil, and an average length of 60–80cm.

Sun-Lovers with a Safety Plan

Even as temperatures drop, adders will bask in surprisingly cool weather, provided the sun is shining. However, they’re careful about where they choose to do it. Ideal basking spots offer both warmth and safety, with sunny exposure and long vegetation nearby, often about the length of the snake’s own body, providing quick cover if a predator passes by.

A Seasonal Spectacle

September’s combination of cooler temperatures and bursts of autumn sunshine makes it one of the best times to appreciate this often-misunderstood reptile. Whether you’re a seasoned wildlife watcher or just enjoy a walk in nature, keeping an eye out for the adder can be a rewarding experience, just remember to observe from a respectful distance, for both your safety and theirs.

And don’t forget, if you spot any reptiles, amphibians, or even their eggs, make sure to record your sightings on our FREE Dragon Finder App.

Your observations help us track populations and protect the habitats of these wonderful wild creatures.

Ponds in winter

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Written by Paul Arestides, Transforming Lives Trainee

At this time of year, especially January and February, our weather can turn cold with ice, frost and snow. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on our garden wildlife ponds and implement these handy tips below when needed. 

Amphibians like frogs, toads and newts tend to brumate on land during the colder weather, so its always a good idea to have spaces of the garden left untouched. Compost heaps, log piles or rocky places are good for them to settle down and help protect them from frost.

If you have a pond, or plan to build one, make it deep enough so it will not freeze completely (at least 60cm for amphibians) frogs may overwinter in the deeper areas, so this will give them the best chance to survive. Invertebrates like beetles, water boatmen and dragonfly larvae will dive to the bottom of the pond and stay dormant in deeper water.

Contrary to popular belief, melting a hole in the ice will not help the amount of oxygen diffusing into the water- although it can help amphibians like newts that need a hole to come up to the surface to breathe. Oxygen can be produced simply by having oxygenating plants growing in the pond.  If there is heavy snow, remove this from the surface ice with a brush to allow sunlight into the water- allowing the plants to continue photosynthesising and creating oxygen.

Do not break the ice as this can send out shock waves that can kill overwintering creatures. Tipping warm/boiling water into your pond isn’t a good idea either as this can trigger animals to come out of their brumation state earlier than planned. 

For further tips, take a look at our Winter Wild Gardening Campaign page. 

 

 

Winter Walks

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Written by Paul Arestides, Transforming Lives Trainee

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Our reptiles and amphibians may be tucked away for the winter, but the month of December is a great time to explore our two public reserves in Peterborough. A cold, frosty morning walk or a leisurely afternoon stroll on a winters day is sometimes what’s needed, especially after the festivities!

Eye Green nature reserve is a 12 hectare site in the village of Eye Green in Cambridgeshire just outside Peterborough. It was originally part of the Northam Brickworks and was declared a nature reserve in 1996. The site has a long history very much connected to the local area. We manage the site for the benefit of our reptiles and amphibians and for the enjoyment of visitors throughout the year. A large lake dominates the reserve with an array of birds, visiting otters and other wildlife around the site.

Boardwalks, which runs along the river Nene, is a 7.8 hectare site owned by Peterborough City Council and Froglife help to look after the site for the benefit of not just reptiles and amphibians, but other wildlife visitors too. It makes for a perfect place to relax, walk along the various trails or go for a run.

Both reserves offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and gives a chance to get closer to nature. 

 

 

 

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