Amphibians in Winter
Mammals are not the only animals to use hibernation as a way to survive winter. Amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, have evolved with some very unique ways of surviving the cold. Many amphibians will spend the time underwater or, like salamanders, go deep underground in tunnels made by small mammals. Wood frogs and the spring peepers will often spend their winters in deep cracks in logs and rocks or the might bury themselves as far as they can in leaf litter to avoid the frosts. Unfortunately, sometimes even these protected places can freeze, but yet the amphibian doesn't die. This is because of special chemicals in their bodies similar to anti-freeze that allows them to survive nearly frozen during the winter. While their hearts have stopped beating and they are not breathing, these frogs will thaw out when spring arrives, and continue on with their lives, as good as new.