Pet Talk with Vicki Davis

Because Minnesota's 50 species of amphibians and reptiles are unable to migrate south to escape the wrath of winter, these cold-blooded animals seek out sites during the fall that will meet their over-wintering needs. Strategies for surviving the inevitable chill are interesting and varied. Some species of salamanders, toads, lizards and snakes seek safety underground, traveling deep into rock crevices or small mammal burrows to escape the frost line. Some frogs, turtles and snakes seek refuge in aquatic habitats where they stay submerged throughout the winter. Wood frogs and members of the treefrog family are truly hardcore. They nestle beneath a thin blanket of leaves on the forest floor, freezing solid. They protect their vital organs by creating their own antifreeze. These frozen frogs do not breathe or have a pulse, yet recover quickly when spring returns. Amphibians and reptiles typically have settled in by late October. However, global climate change could alter seasonal patterns in animals whose activities are so closely linked to temperature.

Carol Hall, DNR herpetologist