It’s been a bitterly cold winter.  How do frogs survive the freezing cold temperatures?  Daily Press explains how the wood frog (Lithobates Sylvaticus) can survive freezing temperatures using its naturally occurring ability to protect its organs from ice damage before thawing back out in the spring.

During hibernation, wood frogs burrow deep into leaf litter on the forest floor. When the temperature drops, the outside of the frog’s body becomes coated with an icy shell. This triggers increased blood glucose levels, essentially an “anti-freeze” solution that circulates to vital organs, protecting them against ice damage. The freezing process is completed after several hours and wood frogs can withstand temperatures as low as 21 degrees Fahrenheit.

The wood frog is found throughout the northern United States and is the only frog equipped to live in the Arctic Circle.  Read more…

Unusual Frogs Lithobates sylvaticus, unique frogs, winter, wood frog