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Frozen pond and resident frog

xamyvaloxxamyvalox Posts: 31
in Wildlife gardening
Hi all

I'm sorry if this question has been asked before, I did have a search but couldn't find the answer I was looking for. 

I have a half whiskey barrell in the garden that I've converted into a wildlife pond. This year I've had one rather large frog that I see often half in, half out of the water. I went out this morning to top the bird feeders up and had a peek, only to see that my frog was still in the pond, only it had all frozen over with about an inch of ice! In a panic, I smashed a hole in the ice, about the size of my fist, to give him/her somewhere to breathe from. 

Will I need to ensure there is a hole available in the pond for breathing over the winter, or are frogs perfectly fine with ponds icing over? I've read that they can hibernate at the bottom over the winter, but assumed as mine is just a whiskey barrell, it wouldn't be deep enough for that. I really would hate to lose them over the winter as I'm so proud that s/he has taken up residence in my little makeshift pond!

Any advice on how to help them out over the colder months would be much appreciated - I don't want think I'm helping only to find out I'm actually hindering! 

Posts

  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    If it freezes solid the frog will die but I would imagine that it would get out if it detected that could happen, wildlife is pretty savvy where predicting weather is concerned and frogs can live out of the water as well as living in it if the animal miscalculates the situation then it dies natural selection.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    A couple of tennis balls floating on the top will stop the entire surface freezing over which may help.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Most frogs hibernate on land but some can hibernate at the bottom of ponds in the detritus there. The ones in the ponds can die if it freezes completely over so if you are sure you have one in the bottom then you would want to keep an area clear (I wouldn't bash the ice though as the shock waves can do harm to critters). It's likely your frog will just move to somewhere else out of the water.
     
  • xamyvaloxxamyvalox Posts: 31
    Thanks everyone. I've popped a tennis ball in the bit that I managed to smash open, so hopefully that will keep it from freezing over completely and the frog can decide if it wants to hibernate in the water, or leave and find some leaves elsewhere in the garden!
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Does the frog have a way of climbing out of the pond or is it stuck in there? Most frogs hibernate on land during the winter.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've never found the tennis ball thing any use, but I use a small plastic bottle, filled with very salty water, and a handful or two of gravel, and then left on the surface, works very well. I have an old bootlace attached, with the opposite end tucked under a nearby rock or log, to keep it roughly in place. The salty water allows it to partially float, and the gravel stops it being blown around and lifting completely out of the water.
    It moves enough to keep the surrounding water from freezing solid, and therefore allows enough airflow for anything living in the pond.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • xamyvaloxxamyvalox Posts: 31
    floralies said:
    Does the frog have a way of climbing out of the pond or is it stuck in there? Most frogs hibernate on land during the winter.
    It usually has a way in an out - I have made a little ramp of pebbles for access in and out as well as varying heights of plant pots.
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