Chicago Outdoors: Discovering Where Frogs and Bucks Go in Winter

Chicago: So, have you ever wondered where frogs go when it gets cold? Well, a reader named Diane from Monee asked just that. She was worried about a frog in her pond and if it might be frozen.

Allison Sacerdote-Velat, a curator at the Chicago Academy of Sciences, shared that aquatic frogs like bullfrogs usually hang out just above the muddy bottom. They can still breathe through their skin, but they slow down a lot in winter. Sometimes, they’ll swim to spots where the ice is thinner to find more oxygen-rich water.

As for land frogs, like toads, they dig into the soil to escape the frost. Spring peepers and chorus frogs find cozy spots in soil cracks or logs. Wood frogs make little depressions in the ground, just under the leaf litter, to hibernate.

In other news, there are some fun events coming up! On January 17, you can check out “Owl Pellet Oddities” at Plum Creek Nature Center. And if you’re into fishing, there are gatherings happening on January 14 at various locations.

Plus, don’t miss the Chicago Boat Show and the Tinley Park Fishing Expo, both running until January 12. There’s also a Muskie Expo at the Kane County Fairgrounds from January 17 to 19.

So, whether you’re curious about wildlife or looking for outdoor activities, Chicago has plenty to offer this winter!